Lymphocyte responses to hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subunits of influenza virus.

The responses of peripheral lymphocytes to purified hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subunits and other components of an influenza. A virus were measured in 21 normal adults and compared with antibody titers. All had influenza antibodies and demonstrated influenza antigen recognition by lympho-proliferative responses. There was a significantly greater response to the two purified influenza virus surface antigens, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, than to either whole intact virus or its separated subviral core. No correlation between magnitudes of antibody titers and lymphocyte responsiveness was observed.