# ANTIGENICITY & IMMUNOGENICITY OF INFLUENZA VIRUS HA

> **NIH NIH R01** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 1987 · $177,600

## Abstract

The three major goals of this proposal are:  1) to determine the regions of
the infuenza virus (A/PR/8/34) hemagglutinin (HA) molecule which serve as
target structures for anti-viral B- and T-cells.  With respect to the
HA-structures seen by antibodies, the previously constructed antigenic map
will be refined and expanded by antibody-mediated selection and antigenic
and structural characterization of some additional PR8 virus mutants and by
generation and subsequent mapping of anti-HA2 antibodies.  The
HA-structures involved in stimulation of helper T (TH) cells will be
provisionally characterized by examination of antibody-selected PR8 virus
mutants, or of enzymatic HA cleavage products, for ability to stimulate TH
hybridomas.  The determinants will then be defined precisely by production
and analysis of synthetic peptides.  An attempt will be made also to
characterize HA-structures involved in the formation of the target
antigen(s) recognized by cytotoxic (CTL) cells.  This may be achieved by
selection of PR8 mutants in the presence of CTL clones and subsequent
antigenic and structural characterization of these virus mutants.  2) The
function of longterm anti-viral TH clones, specific for HA or internal
viral proteins, will be examined with respect to extent of help for
anti-viral B cell responses to HA and internal viral proteins.  These
comparative analyses will be done in vitro and in vivo in an adoptive
transfer system.  3) The relevance of the HA (as target structure for
regulatory and effector immune mechanisms) in protection against influenza
virus infection will be investigated in a murine model system.  This will
be done by comparing degree of protection and immune response in PR8 immune
mice upon challenge with various reassortant viruses that differ from PR8
only with regard to the HA.

The longterm goals are 1) to define the role of distinct regions of the HA
as target structures for immune effector cells and as nominal antigen
structures for regulatory T cells and 2) to assess how precisely changes in
various regions of the HA affect the interaction between influenza virus
and immune system of the host.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125603
- **Project number:** 5R01AI013989-11
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** DW1XZMGNFBL4
- **Principal Investigator:** Walter Gerhard
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $177,600
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1977-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125603

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125603, ANTIGENICITY & IMMUNOGENICITY OF INFLUENZA VIRUS HA (5R01AI013989-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125603. Licensed CC0.

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