Quantitative relationships between the immunizing dose of epidemic influenza virus and the resultant immunity

Abstract

A direct proportion exists between the concentration of epidemic influenza virus used for intrapeHtoneal immunization of mice and the degree of immunity to intranasal infection which develops. Mice vaccinated with virus of a given strength resist infection with virus of the same concentration but not more. An irreducible minimum exists since mice vaccinated with less than ten intranasal lethal doses do not develop sufficient immunity to overcome intranasal infection with virus of the same strength. The fact that there exists a limiting threshold for the degree of immunity which a certain strength of virus will induce indicates that the virus does not multiply after intraperitoneal inoculations. © 1939, Rockefeller University Press., All rights reserved.