title: Influenza A virus PB1-F2: a small protein with a big punch.
abstract: Virulence factors, such as the recently discovered PB1-F2, contribute to the pathogenesis and comorbidity of influenza A virus. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, McAuley et al. characterize the role of PB1-F2, including in the pandemic 1918 virus, in causing increased lung pathology and fatal pneumococcus infection in mice. This work sheds light on the mechanisms of pathogenicity during influenza A virus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Conenello
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: C442816:PB1-F2 protein, Influenza A virus; D014764:Viral Proteins