[Characteristics of the antigenic composition of influenza A (H3N2) virus hemagglutinins isolated 1979-1080].

The results of comparative immunological analysis of epidemic influenza virus strains of 1979-1980 indicate an emergence in the antigenic composition of virus hemagglutinins of two qualitatively new antigenic determinants differing from those of previously investigated influenza H0N1, H1N1, H2N2, H3N2 viruses. It is suggested that the viruses of recent years having completely lost the relationship with the ancestor of the H3N2 subtype and having very little similarity with viruses occuring in 1975-1978 are precursors of the emergence of a new antigenic variant.