Role of sialic acid in infection with vesicular stomatitis virus

The role of sialic acid in the infection of tissue culture cells and mice with vesicular stomatitis virus has been studied. No loss of infectivity of the Indiana serotype of the virus was detected by incubating with neuraminidase although the virus particles had lost sialic acid as judged by their ability to inhibit the agglutination of red blood cells by influenza virus. The results did not depend on the type of cell used for growth and assay of the virus since essentially similar findings were made in BHK cells, L cells or mice. Similar results were obtained with Brazil virus, a subtype of the Indiana serotype and with the New Jersey serotype. We consider that the sialic acid of the virus which is removed by neuraminidase does not play a major role in the infectivity of the virus.