Interaction between Sendai virus and the cell membrane II. The role of Sendai virus neuraminidase in haemolysis

When chicken erythrocytes (CRBC) were pretreated with non-haemolytic Sendai virions or isolated HANA spikes, they acquired a resistance to the haemolytic action of "second challenge" viruses. This resistance was dependent on the quantity of N-acetylneuraminic acid liberated from the surface of the CRBC by the initial virus, and not on the use of different viral sources. When exposed to Sendai virus, CRBC were more difficult to be lysed and easier liberated N-acetylneuraminic acid than human 0 erythrocytes. The restricted number of virions able to fuse CRBC was explained by such neuraminidase function of the HANA spike of the virion.