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Lung infection with influenza virus Cryosections of mouse lung before (left) and after 48 hours (right) of influenza virus infection (green). Nuclei were visualized by DAPI staining (blue). Notice the spread of infection from the airway to the alveolar epithelial layer.

Influenza A is a major pathogen of both humans and animals, and recent advances in genetic engineering have raised concerns about the use of influenza as a biological threat. The devastating impact of the 1918 influenza A pandemic, which killed ~50 million people worldwide, provides a stark illustration of the potential consequences of the deliberate manipulation and release of a highly pathogenic influenza virus. Innate immunity plays an important role in rapid and effective defense against many viral infections. The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial in recognition of viral infection by plasmacytoid dendritic cells and initiating a cascade of antiviral activities mediated by type I interferons (IFNs). Our research led to the demonstration that influenza virus is recognized by the TLR7 in plasmacytoid DCs.  We are investigating the role of various dendritic cells that reside and are recruited to the lung in innate defense as well as the initiation of adaptive immune responses.

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  Last modified: August 17, 2002.




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