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Influenza B mutant viruses with truncated NS1 proteins grow efficiently in Vero cells and are immunogenic in mice.

Contemporary influenza B virus strains were generated encoding C-terminally truncated NS1 proteins. Viable viruses containing the N-terminal 14, 38, 57 or 80 aa of the NS1 protein were rescued in Vero cells. The influenza B virus NS1-truncated mutants were impaired in their ability to counteract interferon (IFN) production, induce antiviral pro-inflammatory cytokines early after infection and show attenuated or restricted growth in IFN-competent hosts. In Vero cells, all of the mutant viruses replicated to high titres comparable to the wild-type influenza B virus. Mice that received a single, intranasal immunization of the NS1-truncated mutants elicited an antibody response and protection against wild-type virus challenge. Therefore, these NS1-truncated mutants should prove useful as potential candidates for live-attenuated influenza virus vaccines.