REVIEW: The Power and Limitations of Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Assays

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N. B. Ustinov, E. G. Zavyalova^*, I. G. Smirnova, and A. M. Kopylov

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, 119991 Moscow, Russia; E-mail: zlenka2006@gmail.com

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received May 12, 2017; Revision received August 8, 2017

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Influenza virus hemagglutinins (HAs) are surface proteins that bind to sialic acid residues at the host cell surface and ensure further virus internalization. Development of methods for the inhibition of these processes drives progress in the design of new antiviral drugs. The state of the isolated HA (i.e. combining tertiary structure and extent of oligomerization) is defined by multiple factors, like the HA source and purification method, posttranslational modifications, pH, etc. The HA state affects HA functional activity and significantly impacts the results of numerous HA assays. In this review, we analyze the power and limitations of currently used HA assays regarding the state of HA.

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KEY WORDS: influenza virus, surface antigens, influenza hemagglutinin, inhibitors of hemagglutination, monoclonal antibodies, ELISA

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297917110025

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