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Influenza epidemic events in Russia from 1998 up to 2005 were associated with the circulation of influenza A (H3N2), A (H1N1) and B viruses. The antigenic analysis revealed that the evolution of A (H3N2) viruses proceeded as following: A/Sydney/05/97-->A/Panama/2007/99-->A/Fujian/411/02-->A/Wellington/01/04; A (H1N1) viruses: A/Bayern/07/95-->A/Bejing/262/95-->A/New Caledonia/20/99; B viruses evolved as two distinct lineages: Victoria- and Yamagata-like viruses. Our results have shown that the evolution in Russia coincided the World trends.

The reproducing ability at elevated temperatures (non-ts phenotype) was examined for 38 influenza B virus strains isolated in different years in different countries. Out of the 7 strains isolated in 1940 to 1973, only one showed temperature-sensitivity of reproduction (a ts phenotype). In 1984 to 1988, the proportion of temperature-sensitive strains increased up to 55% (6 of 11). Since the late 1990s, the majority (90%) of the study influenza B viruses demonstrated a pronounced ts phenotype. Influenza B virus strains were also examined for their resistance to serum inhibitors. Prior to the divergence of influenza B viruses into two lines: B/Jamagata and B/Victoria, the epidemic viruses exhibited a high resistance to nonspecific inhibitors of normal equine serum. This property was also preserved in all study B/Victoria strains; however, 83% of the B/Jamagata viruses were inhibitor-sensitive. The present study has demonstrated the heterogenicity of epidemic influenza B viruses in temperature- and inhibitor-sensitivity.

The influence of ts-phenotype of epidemic viruses and of cold-adapted (CA) reassortant vaccines' strains, appropriately prepared, produced on the human immunogenicity was under investigation. A widespread variability of epidemic viruses' thermal sensitivity sign was established. It was shown that the CA reassortant vaccine strains, obtained through crossbreeding of attenuation donors and of thermally resistant epidemic viruses, are described by a higher immunogenicity. Therefore, the immunogenicity of live influenza vaccines (LIV) can be defined by the ts-phenotype of epidemic parent viruses, which must be sampled for the reassortant vaccine strains not only through searching for samples of antigenically actual viruses but also through search for non-ts-phenotype viruses.

The etiological structure of influenza-like was analyzed in the population in cities and towns and in Russia as a whole in November 1998 to April 1999 by the findings of immunofluorescence and serological surveys of patients with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). By the results of both tests, the proportion of the incidence of influenza A (H3N2) was largest, the decreasing order in their significance was as follows: adenoviruses, type 3 parainfluenza virus, RSV, influenza B virus, influenza A(H1N1), types 2 and 1 parainfluenza virus. All influenza viruses A(H1N1) were isolated in Samara in February 1999. Three of them were similar to the reference strain A/Johannesburg/82/96 in antigenic properties, two strains appeared to be its drift variants. No A/Beijing/262/95 (H1N1)-like viruses recommended for incorporation as part of vaccines were detected. All influenza A(H3N2) viruses were drift variants of strain A/Sydney/05/97, and all influenza B viruses were similar to the reference strain B/Harbin/07/94 in antigenic structure.

The antigenic properties of 51 strains of influenza virus A(H1N1), isolated in different cities of Russia during the epidemic of 1998, were studied. Most of these strains (49) proved to be similar to virus A/Bern/07/95 in the antigenic structure of hemagglutinin, but 2 strains isolated in Ulan-Ude were found to be closely related to new antigenic variants of this virus: A/Beijing/262/95 and A/Fukuoka/c7/98. The analysis of the antigenic structure of influenza-like diseases (ILD) in different cities of Russia revealed that adenoviruses causing up to 10.9-14.6% of all acute respiratory virus infections dominated at the pre- and post-epidemic periods. RS-viruses, parainfluenza viruses of types 2 and 3 circulated during the whole season (their proportion was 5.1-6.6%). The intensity of the circulation of influenza viruses A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) increased, starting from January, and continued till April 1998; its peak was observed in February-March in most of the cities of Russia (up to 37.5-41.6% according to the results of immunofluorescent diagnostics and 53-73% of ILD according to the results of the hemagglutination inhibition test). The occurrence of influenza B during this season was very low.

The comparison of interepidemic influenza viruses with the pathogens of resultant influenza epidemics has revealed that they belong to the same type (subtype) of influenza virus. A definite correlation has been found between the antigenic specificity of haemagglutinin of epidemic and interepidemic strains. The antigenic structure of the interepidemic viruses and the pathogens of further epidemics of influenza B viruses have been found to be completely identical. The interepidemic A(H1N1) isolates have been shown to be antigenic analogues of the causative agents of influenza A(H1N1) during the previous epidemics. Despite the time and place of their isolation, as well as the etiology of the previous and subsequent epidemics, the interepidemic influenza A(H3N2) viruses have been ascertained to be similar to the reference A/Bangkok/1/79.

During the past years, the etiological situation has been significantly complicated. It is characterized by simultaneous circulation of A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses and by the isolation of reassortant strains and viruses, which are atypical in relation to the process of their natural variability. The antigenic properties of epidemic strains and unusual isolates were investigated. The marked heterogeneity of the A(H3N2) influenza viruses was demonstrated. It was determined by the circulation of several antigenic variants during the epidemic. Two separate antigenic lineage of the influenza B viruses--b/Victoria/2/87 and B/Yamagata/16/88--cocirculated in our country in 1991. Since 1986, all the influenza A(H1N1) viruses have been considered to be varieties of the reference strain A/Taiwan/1/86. A direct correlation was found between some atypical viruses and the vaccine strains previously used.

Simultaneous circulation of different subtypes of influenza A viruses provides conditions for reassortant strains formation. A comparative investigation of genome of 47 influenza A virus strains (H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2) was carried out by competitive dot hybridization technique and sequence analysis of some of cDNA-copies of the virus genes. All the genes of 43 strains encoding nonglycolysed proteins corresponded to the serum subtype of surface glycoproteins. The reassortant pattern of genome for some genes of core proteins was revealed in 4 viruses. All the dot hybridization data were completely confirmed by sequence analysis of the genes.

In the summer of 1986 the epidemic, whose etiological agents were influenza viruses A (H1N1) and respiratory syncytial virus, was registered among the population of Novoshakhtinsk. In a number of mines 15.3-16.7% of the employees were affected. Influenza viruses A (H1N1) proved to be closely related in their antigenic and biological properties to viruses isolated in the USSR in March-June 1986, as well as to viruses A (H1N1), the etiological agents of the epidemic which developed in the USSR in October-December 1986.

The hemagglutinin gene primary structure of influenza virus A/Riga/9977/86 (H3N2) belonging to the "Coen/84" antigenic subgroup was determined by primer sequencing. A comparative analysis confirmed that the reversions of amino acids in the late stages of the H3 influenza virus subtype antigenic drift became more frequent and the antigenic variants remained in epidemic circulation longer. The possible role of some mutations is discussed.

As indicated by the results of the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test, influenza viruses A/Leningrad/80 contain hemagglutinin (HA), similar to that of virus A/Singapore/1/57 (H2N2). Neuraminidase contained in viruses A/Leningrad/80 belongs to serological subtype N2 and is similar to that of virus A/Singapore/1/57 (H2N2). No differences in the polypeptide composition of the virus-induced proteins of viruses A/Leningrad/527/80, A/Leningrad/549/80, A/Leningrad/553/80 and virus A/Singapore/1/57 used as reference have been detected in the study of their electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gel, as well as the mobility of duplexes obtained by the hybridization of the virion and complement RNA of viruses A/Leningrad/553/80 and A/Singapore/1/57. The results of the HAI test with antisera to purified HA indicate that virus A/Leningrad/549/80 contains HA similar to that of viruses A(H2N2) isolated in 1957, but not in 1964. The HAI test with the sera of polecats having the infection permits the differentiation of viruses A/Leningrad/80 from epidemic viruses A(H2N2) isolated in 1957-1965, including reference virus A/Singapore/1/57. In relation to the latter, the isolates of 1980 are older antigenic mutants. The isolates of 1980 are distinguished from virus A(H2N2), isolated in 1975 from the system of persisting influenza infection in a tissue culture, by mutation in NS-gene and the properties of RNA-polymerase. The authenticity of the isolation of viruses A(H2N2) in Leningrad in 1980 has been proved.