Three strains of influenza A virus (H3N2): interferon sensitivity in vitro and interferon production in volunteers.

Three antigenic variants of the H3N2 subtype of wild-type influenza A virus (representing the years 1968, 1972, and 1974) were examined for their sensitivity to interferon and for their ability to induce local respiratory tract interferon in volunteers. In addition, the time of appearance of symptoms in infected volunteers was correlated with the patterns of virus shedding and interferon production. The sensitivity to interferon and the ability to stimulate nasopharyngeal interferon were similarly high for all three strains. Symptomatic illness, peak virus shedding, and peak interferon response all occurred within a 26-h period. These findings imply that interferon or its inducers theoretically could be protective if applied prophylactically, but would be less efficacious when used therapeutically.