Biopolymers and cell. 1999; 15 (6): 550 - 556

The influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitor produced by Staphylococcus aureus

S. L. Rybalko, A. V. Shapiro, L. D. Varbanets

The glycoproteinic complex has been isolated from the Staphylococcus aureus culture fluid possessing an activity inhibiting influenza virus neuraminidase. Two fractions have been further purified containing different monosugars components, the first one has been shown to contain mannose, glucose, rhamnose, glucosamine, and galactosamine, while rhamnose is absent in the second fraction, A component of fraction 1 inhibits the neuraminidase activity and at the same time enhances the virus hemagglutinating activity more strongly comparing to the fraction 2. Some chemical modifications of the substances of the fractions studied (periodate oxidation, protease pretreatment, and delipidization) prove the carbohydrate component of the complex to be responsible for its antineuraminidase activity. The protease pretreatment decreases twice the antineuraminidase activity of the fraction 2 having no influence on this activity of the fraction 1.