Carbohydrate perturbations of viruses or viral antigens and utilization for diagnostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic applications

Methods for diagnosis, prognosis, prophylaxis and therapy of viral infections are described. The methods employ a virus, viral antigen or fragment thereof in which "perturbation" of an oligosaccharide moiety renders the virus, viral antigen or fragment thereof more specifically recognizable or reactive with neutralizing antibody. As described, "perturbation" of an oligosaccharide moiety encompasses any modification that (1) alters the chemical or physicial structure of a carbohydrate residue that is naturally present : (2) that removes, wholly or in part, a carbohydrate residue ; and/or (3) that prevents or alters addition of a carbohydrate residue. A variety of methods for oligosacchardie "perturbation" are also described.