Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T17:45:58.651Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Disintegration of Influenza Virus Particles on Entry into the Host Cell. Studies with Virus Labelled with Radiophosphorus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

L. Hoyle
Affiliation:
From the Public Health Laboratory,General Hospital, Northampton
W. Frisch-Niggemeyer
Affiliation:
From the Public Health Laboratory,General Hospital, Northampton
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Influenza A virus labelled with radiophosphorus was introduced as a primary inoculum into the allantoic sac of fertile eggs. Virus so introduced enters the cells of the chorio-allantoic membrane, and a study has been made of the chemical state of 32P present in the membranes 1½ hr. after inoculation.

It was found that on entry into the host cell the virus particle disintegrates probably as a result of destruction of its phospholipid. Radiophosphorus derived from the virus phospholipid can be recovered from the infected membranes by extraction with physiological saline in the form of compounds of small molecular weight which are not precipitated by protein precipitants and are not sedimentable at a centrifugal force of 100,000 g.

Saline extracts of the infected membranes also contain labelled nucleic acid which appears to be derived from the virus nucleoprotein.

A large part of the nucleoprotein phosphorus of the inoculated labelled virus cannot be recovered from the infected membranes by extraction with physiological saline but can be recovered if the cell nuclear material is dissolved in molar sodium chloride. The 32P in such molar chloride extracts is partly precipitated with the deoxyribonucleoprotein on dilution with water, and is partly present as free nucleic acid.

It is suggested that on entry into the host cell the virus particle is broken down, the phospholipid being destroyed and the nucleoprotein disintegrated with the release of free nucleic acid which enters into a close relation with the cell nuclear material.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1955

References

Burnet, F. M. & Lind, P. E. (1951). A genetic approach to variation in influenza viruses. 3. Recombination of characters in influenza virus strains used in mixed infections. J. gen. Microbiol. 5, 54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, A. F. (1950). The chemical analysis of purified influenza virus A (PR 8 strain) containing radioactive phosphorus. Canad. J. Res. 28, 186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, A. F. & McLelland, L. (1949). Uptake of radiophosphorus by influenza virus. Nature, Lond., 163, 949.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, A. F. & McLelland, L. (1950). The uptake of radiophosphorus by influenza virus A (PR 8 strain). Canad. J. Res. 28, 121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henle, W. & Henle, G. (1949). Studies in host-virus interactions in the chick embryo—influenza virus system. III. Development of infectivity, haemagglutinin, and complement fixation ctivities during the first infectious cycle. J. exp. Med. 90, 23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoyle, L. (1948). The growth cycle of influenza virus A. A study of the relations between virus, soluble antigen, and host cell in fertile eggs inoculated with influenza virus. Brit. J. exp. Path. 29, 390.Google ScholarPubMed
Hoyle, L. (1950). The multiplication of influenza viruses in the fertile egg. J. Hyg., Camb., 48, 277.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hoyle, L. (1952). Structure of the influenza virus. J. Hyg., Camb., 50, 229.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hoyle, L., Jolles, B. & Mitchell, R. C. (1954). The incorporation of radio-active phosphorus in he influenza virus and its distribution in serologically active virus fractions. J. Hyg., Camb., 52, 119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Chien, (1955). Studies on influenza infection in ferrets by means of fluorescin-labelled antibody. II. The role of soluble antigen in nuclear fluorescence and cross reactions. J. exp. Med. 101, 677.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, O. C., Blank, H., Spizizen, I. & Henle, W. (1954). The incorporation of radioactive phosphorus into influenza virus. J. Immunol. 73, 415.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Watson, B. K. & Coons, A. H. (1954). Studies of influenza virus infection in the chick embryo using fluorescent antibody. J. exp. Med. 99, 419.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wyckoff, R. W. G. (1953). Formation of the particle of influenza virus. J. Immunol. 70, 187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed