Viral antigens and impurities in influenza vaccines. Evaluation by immunoelectrophoretic methods.

Laurell electrophoretic methods were used to evaluate internal influenza virus antigens and immunogenic impurities (from the fertile egg) in influenza whole virus and subunit preparations. It could be found that subunit preparations obtained after selective solubilization of the surface antigens with cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide are essentially free from internal structure proteins, ribonucleoprotein, and matrix protein. In addition impurities (non viral antigen substances) are considerably reduced in comparison with whole virus preparations, when the core particle is separated by centrifugation. By testing hyperimmune sera against whole virus and subunit preparations, concerning antibody specificities to host components, it could be demonstrated that whole viruses stimulate more antibodies to the host components, than subunit preparations. This is especially true if antigens are tested which are associated with the chorioallantoic membrane.