Saliva of human adults possesses the capacity to inhibit agglutination of erythrocytes by influenza virus. Under the conditions of study the effectiveness varies among individuals and at different times. Its action is not significantly affected by heating at 56° C for 30 minutes; nor is its behavior influenced by heating of the virus. Nevertheless, the action of the inhibitor appears to be upon the virus rather than upon the erythrocytes. The nature of the inhibitor has not been determined but it is suggested that saliva represents a physiologic source of materials such as have been shown to interfere with hemagglutination in in vitro systems.
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Francis et al. (1948) studied this question.