A labile component of normal serum which combines with various viruses; neutralization of infectivity and inhibition of hemagglutination by the component.

A labile component present in the serum of human beings, guinea pigs, and rabbits neutralizes the infectivity of mumps, Newcastle disease, influenza A and B viruses. The labile component of these sera and of mouse serum also inhibits hemagglutination of chicken RBC by these viruses. The component is inactivated by heating at 56 degrees C. for 30 minutes and upon storage at 4 degrees C. for periods longer than 2 weeks. The virus-neutralizing and hemagglutination-inhibiting properties result from serum component-virus combination in the presence of calcium. The combination is stable, and does not undergo spontaneous dissociation. Partial separation of virus can be brought about by heating mixtures held for 24 hours or by removal of calcium ions with sodium citrate. The labile serum component appears to be distinct from hemolytic complement.