[Test system for detecting and differentiating the influenza virus by an immunoenzyme method]

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Diagnostic Assays

Background:

• Influenza A and B viruses pose significant public health challenges.
• Accurate and rapid detection is crucial for effective treatment and control.
• Existing diagnostic methods may have limitations in sensitivity or sample applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an enzyme immunoassay for detecting and differentiating influenza A and B viruses.
• To evaluate the efficacy of using antibodies against internal viral proteins.
• To assess the adaptability of the assay for various sample sources, including clinical specimens.

Main Methods:

• Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) utilizing antibodies against the complex of internal viral proteins.
• Testing sera raised against disrupted viruses from different growth systems (mice, cell culture, chick embryos).
• Validation of antibody specificity against M protein and RNP.

Main Results:

• The developed EIA effectively detects and differentiates influenza A and B viruses.
• Two types of antisera to internal proteins demonstrated utility depending on the sample matrix (allantoic fluid vs. nasal secretions).
• The assay exhibited comparable sensitivity and specificity to methods using antibodies against pure M protein and RNP.

Conclusions:

• An enzyme immunoassay targeting internal viral proteins is a sensitive and specific method for influenza A and B detection.
• The assay's flexibility in using different antisera allows for application in diverse diagnostic scenarios.
• This approach offers a viable alternative for influenza virus diagnostics.