[Common oligopeptides of influenza virus A hemagglutinin]

Oligopeptide maps of the light chain of hemagglutinin of all 17 serotypes: H0-H3, Hsw1, Heq1-Heq2, Hav1-Hav10, were studied for classification of influenza A viruses isolated from man and animals. The comparisons revealed common oligopeptides in many viruses isolated from man and animals, so that in the final analysis all influenza A viruses of man and animals form a continuous series. It is concluded that human and animal influenza A viruses comprise a single but extremely heterogeneous population capable of continuous exchange of genes.