ANTIGENIC AND GENETIC-VARIATION OF THE HN PROTEIN OF MUMPS-VIRUS STRAINS

The relationships between different strains of mumps virus were establ ished by determination of the sequence of the HN gene. They closely re semble those established from other portions of the genome, suggesting that the viruses are not recombinants over the areas examined. The re lationships were consistent with those established by reaction with mo noclonal antibodies raised against the Urabe strain, which has a simil ar antigenic structure to previously studied laboratory strains, and l argely consistent with the specificity of the serological response of naturally infected or vaccinated human subjects.