Chemical action of influenza virus on the red blood cell membrane. I. Action on membrane neuraminic acids.

The chemical action of influenza virus strains PR8 and Lee and of periodate on the neuraminic acid containing lipids of human red blood cells has been investigated by thin layer chromatography. The results showed that haemagglutination by the two strains as well as periodate treatment induced manifold and profound chemical alterations in the neuraminic acid-containing lipids. The changes produced by strains PR8 and Lee differed from each other and from those caused by periodate. Alterations in the neuraminic acid-containing lipids induced by heated strain PR8 were identical with those obtained after haemagglutination by the native virus, indicating that virus neuraminidase is not inactivated by heat. Thus, differences in the haemagglutinating ability between native and heated virus are not due to enzyme inactivation.