Inhibition by Certain Polysaccharides of Hemagglutination and of Multiplication of Influenza Virus

The complex carbohydrates apple pectin, citrus pectin, flaxseed mucilage, blood group A substance, gum acacia, and gum myrrh as well as an extract of RBC, when examined in a pattern test, were shown to inhibit the agglutination of chicken RBC by influenza A virus. A number of other simple and complex carbohydrates showed no inhibitory effect. The hemagglutination-inhibiting action of apple pectin was examined in some detail and evidence was adduced to show that it affected both virus and red cell. Apple pectin was also found to inhibit the multiplication of influenza A virus in embryonated eggs.