Induction of an Inhibitor of Influenza Virus Hemagglutination by Treatment of Serum with Periodate

Serum is commonly treated with potassium periodate to destroy nonspecific inhibitors of influenza virus hemagglutination. We have observed, however, that such treatment of serum without pre-existing inhibitor produced high titers of inhibitor against certain strains of influenza virus. Inhibitor was induced in the serum from several different animal species but not in hamster or mouse serum. Periodate treatment of serum albumin, fraction V, from several animals, including man, creates this inhibitor. Our data indicate that the inhibitor induced in the serum of various animal species differs in its mechanism of induction and in its resistance to receptor-destroying enzyme and trypsin. Hemagglutination by B/Singapore/3/64, B/Colorado/2/65, B/Georgia/1/65, and B/Massachusetts/3/66 strains of influenza virus is inhibited by periodate-treated human serum at dilutions as high as 1:5,120. The routine use of periodate treatment of serum in diagnostic and surveillance studies of influenza virus infections is not recommended.