Interplay between lipids and viral glycoproteins during hemolysis and fusion by influenza virus

Since mixtures of lipids alone are known to elicit membrane fusion without participation of fusion proteins, the role of viral lipids in the so-called virus-induced hemolysis and cell fusion has been investigated, using as a model the fowl plague virus (influenza A/FPV/Rostock/H7N1). The experiments were planned in a way that allowed quantitative modification of viral lipids without changing envelope glycoproteins. Under the conditions employed, cholesterol oxidase of Nocardia erythropolis and phospholipase C of Bacillus cereus were shown to completely modify their substrates in the virus without altering virus-associated hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities. It was found with such enzyme treatment that virus-induced hemolysis and cell fusion are greatly influenced by cholesterol and phospholipids of the envelope. It became clear, that hemolysis and fusion are differently dependent on the nature of lipid components even though mediated by the same viral glycoproteins.