[Antigenic properties of influenza virus type A inactivated by ultraviolet irradiation]

The effect of ultraviolet irradiation (UVI) on influenza A virus was studied. UVI of influenza A virus purified by adsorption chromatography on porous glass (PG) was found to result in irreversible inactivation of virus. The rate of inactivation directly depended upon the degree of virus purification. A reduction in the neuraminidase, hemagglutinating and antigenic activity of the virus occurred after a considerably longer UVI (over 7--10 min) than that required for inactivation of the purified virus (1--2 min) with the regimen of inactivation used. No changes in specificity of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens after UVI were observed. The immunogenic activity of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of the experimental lots of influenza vaccine purified on PG but inactivated by different means (UVI or formalin) was similar.