Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Influenza A virus is a dangerous pathogen that infects cells within the respiratory system to cause disease. The body responds to infection by secreting molecules that warn uninfected cells and activate antiviral defenses. However, influenza can jam or even hack these signals to gain the upper-hand. The goal of our research is to decipher the complex messages being sent by infected cells and shut down deregulated communication lines to prevent them from undermining the body's defense systems. Recently, we have discovered that influenza infected cells actually "recycle" parts of themselves through a process termed autophagy and secrete this refuse outside the cell. Moreover, this secreted refuse can alter how cells respond to infection. We are now focused on deciphering the messages that are being sent to uninfected cells via this unorthodox mechanism, and how this impacts the response to infection. This research will define novel molecules and mechanisms that cells use to communicate during influenza infection, and how best to manipulate these communication lines to combat infectious disease.