Effect of the influenza virus and its structural components on the animal immunocompetence system

The authors studied the effect of the influenza virus A (PR8/34) and of its structural components on the immunological reactivity of mice. The enzyme of the external coat of the influenza virus--neuraminidase--possessed an immunodepressive action. Administration of neuraminidase led to the elimination of sialic acids from the surface of lymphocytes and to the reduction of their electrophoretic mobility. The mechanism of the immunodepressive action of neuraminidase is discussed.