Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are responsible for millions of respiratory infections in humans and animals worldwide every year, resulting in a considerable economic burden globally. When IAVs are detected by the host immune system, it employs a response to clear the viral infection. However, IAV have evolved to develop efficient mechanisms to counteract host antiviral responses to efficiently replicate in their hosts. Vaccination is the main option for the control of IAV infections. Unfortunately, current vaccination strategies to prevent IAV infections are only partially effective, thus the development of novel prophylactic approaches, including universal vaccines, are required.
While the innate immune system provides the first line of defense against IAV infection, it has also been demonstrated that some aspects of the innate immune response may lead to severe morbidity or mortality from IAV, including inflammatory lung injury, bacterial superinfection, and exacerbation of reactive airways disease. Though inflammatory responses can be damaging, surfactant protein D and antimicrobial peptides have the capacity for reducing viral replication and also inhibiting excessive inflammatory responses. These innate immune factors represent potential targets for the effective treatment of IAV.
Adaptive immune responses are mediated by antigen-specific memory B and T cells, which contribute to virus clearance through different mechanisms. Adaptive immunity is initiated by important components of the innate immune system, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. These cells process and present antigens to generate specific T and B cell responses. The humoral immune response functions through hemagglutinin-specific circulating antibodies that neutralize IAV, or that mediate cellular responses through their Fc region. Cellular immunity also plays a crucial role in the fight against IAVs, either by producing cytokines upon antigen-specific activation or through direct cytotoxic activity for the removal of infected cells. IAV utilizes various immune evasion strategies to successfully infect the host.
Recent studies have improved our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of IAV and of the co-evolution of viruses and their hosts. In addition, recent systems immunology studies are advancing our understanding of the relationship between IAV and the host immune system at an unprecedented pace, facilitating the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines with enhanced efficacy.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Clinical Trial, Opinion, and Perspective articles, related but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Reviews of our current understanding of immune responses to IAV infection
• Novel innate immune mechanisms underlying protection against IAV infection
• Understanding the innate immune mechanisms underlying morbidity or mortality from IAV
• Novel understanding of cellular adaptive immune responses protecting against IAV
• Novel understanding of the humoral immune responses against IAV
• Mechanisms deployed by IAV to escape host innate and adaptive immune responses
• Co-evolution of IAV and host immune responses
• Novel therapeutics targeting immune responses/ immune dysfunction
• Use of novel technologies to understand immunity to IAV
• Study of factors associated with innate or adaptive immune responses to influenza vaccination and/or infection.
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are responsible for millions of respiratory infections in humans and animals worldwide every year, resulting in a considerable economic burden globally. When IAVs are detected by the host immune system, it employs a response to clear the viral infection. However, IAV have evolved to develop efficient mechanisms to counteract host antiviral responses to efficiently replicate in their hosts. Vaccination is the main option for the control of IAV infections. Unfortunately, current vaccination strategies to prevent IAV infections are only partially effective, thus the development of novel prophylactic approaches, including universal vaccines, are required.
While the innate immune system provides the first line of defense against IAV infection, it has also been demonstrated that some aspects of the innate immune response may lead to severe morbidity or mortality from IAV, including inflammatory lung injury, bacterial superinfection, and exacerbation of reactive airways disease. Though inflammatory responses can be damaging, surfactant protein D and antimicrobial peptides have the capacity for reducing viral replication and also inhibiting excessive inflammatory responses. These innate immune factors represent potential targets for the effective treatment of IAV.
Adaptive immune responses are mediated by antigen-specific memory B and T cells, which contribute to virus clearance through different mechanisms. Adaptive immunity is initiated by important components of the innate immune system, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. These cells process and present antigens to generate specific T and B cell responses. The humoral immune response functions through hemagglutinin-specific circulating antibodies that neutralize IAV, or that mediate cellular responses through their Fc region. Cellular immunity also plays a crucial role in the fight against IAVs, either by producing cytokines upon antigen-specific activation or through direct cytotoxic activity for the removal of infected cells. IAV utilizes various immune evasion strategies to successfully infect the host.
Recent studies have improved our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of IAV and of the co-evolution of viruses and their hosts. In addition, recent systems immunology studies are advancing our understanding of the relationship between IAV and the host immune system at an unprecedented pace, facilitating the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines with enhanced efficacy.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Clinical Trial, Opinion, and Perspective articles, related but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Reviews of our current understanding of immune responses to IAV infection
• Novel innate immune mechanisms underlying protection against IAV infection
• Understanding the innate immune mechanisms underlying morbidity or mortality from IAV
• Novel understanding of cellular adaptive immune responses protecting against IAV
• Novel understanding of the humoral immune responses against IAV
• Mechanisms deployed by IAV to escape host innate and adaptive immune responses
• Co-evolution of IAV and host immune responses
• Novel therapeutics targeting immune responses/ immune dysfunction
• Use of novel technologies to understand immunity to IAV
• Study of factors associated with innate or adaptive immune responses to influenza vaccination and/or infection.
