The Mx1 gene protects mice against the pandemic 1918 and highly lethal human H5N1 influenza viruses.
Mice carrying a wild-type Mx1 gene (Mx1+/+) differ from standard laboratory mice (Mx1-/-) in being highly resistant to infection with common laboratory strains of influenza A virus. We report that Mx1 also protects mice against the pandemic human 1918 influenza virus and a highly lethal human H5N1 strain from Vietnam. Resistance to H5N1 of Mx1+/+ but not Mx1-/- mice was enhanced if the animals were treated with a single dose of exogenous alpha interferon before infection. Thus, the interferon-induced resistance factor Mx1 represents a key component of the murine innate immune system that mediates protection against epidemic and pandemic influenza viruses.
Tumpey
Terrence M
TM
Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. tft9@cdc.gov
Szretter
Kristy J
KJ
Van Hoeven
Neal
N
Katz
Jacqueline M
JM
Kochs
Georg
G
Haller
Otto
O
García-Sastre
Adolfo
A
Staeheli
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins
C579070:Mx1 protein, mouse; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins