Cationic lysosomotropic molecules such as ammonium salts and chloroquine inhibit influenza A virus (IAV) infection in cell culture by counteracting endosomal acidification and hampering viral-endosomal fusion. Here, we studied the effects of storage of L-glutamine-supplemented cell culture media on accumulation of ammonium and inhibition of IAV infection. The storage-related inhibitory effect was observed for DMEM and OptiMEM media but not for RPMI medium, and was more pronounced for IAV with pH-stable hemagglutinin. Our results highlight the importance to consider potential presence of virus-inhibiting lysosomotropic agents and/or their production in culture media with negative effect on influenza virus infection.
Keywords: Ammonium; Cell culture; Endosomal acidification; Influenza A virus; L-glutamine; Virus inactivation.
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