Inhibition of Influenza Virus Multiplication with a Glucose Antimetabolite (2-deoxy-D-glucose)

Abstract

OPTIMAL in vitro multiplication of influenza virus in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo is dependent upon the presence of glucose in the medium¹. Evidence on the importance of endogenous glucose in in vivo synthesis of influenza virus is lacking. The relatively low toxicity in both experimental animals² and humans³ of the potent glucose antimetabolite 2-deoxy-D-glucose suggested the feasibility of employing this compound in in vivo influenza virus infection. The present studies, undertaken in the intact chick embryo, demonstrate that the synthesis of influenza virus is markedly inhibited by 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Ancillary studies with in vitro systems show this inhibition to be reversible with glucose and therefore not related to permanent host cell damage.