Dynamics of influenza virus infection and pathology.
A key question in pandemic influenza is the relative roles of innate immunity and target cell depletion in limiting primary infection and modulating pathology. Here, we model these interactions using detailed data from equine influenza virus infection, combining viral and immune (type I interferon) kinetics with estimates of cell depletion. The resulting dynamics indicate a powerful role for innate immunity in controlling the rapid peak in virus shedding. As a corollary, cells are much less depleted than suggested by a model of human influenza based only on virus-shedding data. We then explore how differences in the influence of viral proteins on interferon kinetics can account for the observed spectrum of virus shedding, immune response, and influenza pathology. In particular, induction of high levels of interferon ("cytokine storms"), coupled with evasion of its effects, could lead to severe pathology, as hypothesized for some fatal cases of influenza.
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, United Kingdom. ras93@cam.ac.uk
Roberto A
RA
Saenz
Michelle
M
Quinlivan
Debra
D
Elton
Shona
S
Macrae
Anthony S
AS
Blunden
Jennifer A
JA
Mumford
Janet M
JM
Daly
Paul
P
Digard
Ann
A
Cullinane
Bryan T
BT
Grenfell
John W
JW
McCauley
James L N
JL
Wood
Julia R
JR
Gog
D000818:Animals; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D053123:Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D017201:Virus Shedding
D007372:Interferons