title: Modulation of Host Immunity by the Human Metapneumovirus.
abstract: Globally, as a leading agent of acute respiratory tract infections in children <5 years of age and the elderly, the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has gained considerable attention. As inferred from studies comparing vaccinated and experimentally infected mice, the acquired immune response elicited by this pathogen fails to efficiently clear the virus from the airways, which leads to an exaggerated inflammatory response and lung damage. Furthermore, after disease resolution, there is a poor development of T and B cell immunological memory, which is believed to promote reinfections and viral spread in the community. In this article, we discuss the molecular mechanisms that shape the interactions of HMPV with host tissues that lead to pulmonary pathology and to the development of adaptive immunity that fails to protect against natural infections by this virus.
authors.affiliation: Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Pablo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Céspedes
authors.affiliation: Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Christian E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Palavecino
authors.affiliation: Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile INSERM U1064, Nantes, France akalergis@bio.puc.cl sbueno@bio.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Alexis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kalergis
authors.affiliation: Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile akalergis@bio.puc.cl sbueno@bio.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bueno
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology