Reactivity
Virus
(tested or 100% immunogen sequence identity)
Immunogen
Yamagata strain of Influenza B.
Specificity
Recognizes influenza virus type B and does not cross react with Influenza A, Para 1-3, RSV or adenovirus. It gives negative staining in indirect immunofluorescence on uninfected monkey kidney cells. Influenza virus type B is a genus in the virus family Orthomyxoviridae, responsible for acute respiratory illnesses in humans. It varies antigenically from influenza virus types A and C and is not divided into any subtypes. The gradual evolution of Influenza virus type B occurs via a series of mutations known as antigenic drift, in the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA), enabling the virus to evade the immune system and potentially re-infect the same host. HA glycoproteins from the Influenza virus type B are included in the annually updated trivalent flu vaccine, along with the Influenza virus type A subtypes H3N2 and H1N1.