Attempts at detection of actomyosin associated with influenza virus

Influenza virus strans A/Scotland/74, A/Hong Kong/68, A/Port Chalmers/73 and the MRC-12 recombinant were tested with immune antiserum against actomyosin. As shown by electron microscopy, the serum aggregated virus particles, but only after bromelain treatment (without haemagglutinin and neuraminidase spikes). In rocket electrophoresis the serum gave positive precipitation reaction with all the strains tested, and with virus from various hosts (chick embryo, monkey kidney cell culture, mice after adaptation). There fore the host protein presumably is present in the influenza virus structure irrespective of the strain or the host in which the virus is grown.