Antigens common to Types 1 and 2 poliomyelitis viruses

During a recent epidemic of poliomyelitis three viruses isolated (one Type 1 and two Type 2) elicited both Type 1 and Type 2 CF and precipitating antibodies in the patients whilst only the homotypic neutralizing antibodies were present. These viruses inoculated into animals produced specific CF and neutralizing antibodies, but precipitating antibodies to both types were present in a significant number of animals. These findings suggest that certain polioviruses have complement-fixing and precipitating antigens common to both Type 1 and Type 2 viruses. We would like to thank our colleagues in the Virus Research Unit for their helpful advice and criticism and Dr J. Hampton (Poliomyelitis Inst., Johannesburg) for the concentrated Type 1 poliovirus vaccine.