Antibody-induced redistribution of virus antigens on the surface of influenza virus-infected cells.

The behaviour of virus-specific antigen-antibody complexes at the plasma membrane of HeLa cells infected with influenza virus (A0PR8) was studied by immunofluorescence- and immunoelectron-microscopy. As early as 7 h after infection the virus-induced plasma membrane antigens are evenly distributed over the surface of the infected cells. The addition of antiviral antibodies interferes with this distribution. The appearance of a subsequent patchlike and 'capping' distribution, followed by the disappearance of virus antigen-antibody complexes from the cell surface, is described. These findings demonstrate the potential mobility of virus-induced antigens in the plane of the cell surface.