Antigenic and genetic characterization of twenty-six strains of human respiratory syncytial virus (subgroup A) isolated during three consecutive outbreaks in Havana City, Cuba

Twenty-six human respiratory syncytial virus strains (subgroup A) isolated from three outbreaks in Havana City during the period 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 were analyzed to determine their antigenic and genetic relationship s. Analyses were performed by monoclonal antibodies and restriction mapping (N gene) following amplification of the select region of the virus genome by polymerase chain reaction. All isolated strains were classified as subgr oup A by monoclonal antibodies and they showed a restriction pattern NP4 th at belonged to subgroup A. Thus the results obtained in this work, showed a close relation (100%) between antigenic and genetic characterization of th e isolated strains in our laboratory. These methods permit the examination of large numbers of isolates by molecular techniques, simplifying the resea rch into the molecular epidemiology of the virus.