Negation of Interference as the Mechanism by Which Cortisone Induces Increased Virus Yields

Studies of the influence of cortisone on the dynamics of influenza virus multiplication have suggested that cortisone may act to limit the interference with virus increase effected by autologous non-infective but hemagglutinating virus (1). An earlier investigation had adduced evidence for multiplici ty reactivation in the presence of cortisone of virus rendered non-infective (inactive) by mild thermal stress (2). The data presented here will show that inhibition or negation of the viral interference phenomenon is effected by cortisone, and that this effect is the probable mechanism by which influenza virus yields are enhanced.