Isolation and characterization of influenza C virus inhibitors in rat serum

Two inhibitors against haemagglutination by influenza C virus were isolated from pooled sera of normal rats by sequential chromatography on Blue Sepharose CL 6B, Ultrogel AcA 2, and DEAE-cellulose. The two inhibitors were identified as alpha 1-macroglobulin and murinoglobulin by comparison with the authentic samples. These inhibitors abolished the haemagglutination by influenza C virus strains but did not affect the haemagglutination by influenza A and B virus strains. Haemagglutination inhibition activity of both inhibitors was completely destroyed by incubation with neuraminidase from Arthrobacter ureafaciens. By contrast, no activity was lost after treatment with neuraminidase from Vibrio cholerae. These results suggest that the sialic acid residue(s) which is excised by the former neuraminidase but not by the latter is essential for the haemagglutination inhibition. The two inhibitors were inactivated by treating with sodium hydroxide and methylamine but not with sodium metaperiodate.