Grant: Project Grant

Influenza A virus (IAV) 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, IAV 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 compromised communication lines to prevent them from undermining the body's defense systems. Recently, we have discovered that influenza hacks a cellular 'recycling' pathway termed autophagy during infection, causing infected to cells to secrete messages in their waste that jam antiviral defenses. We are now focusing on deciphering the harmful messages that are being sent to uninfected cells via this unorthodox mechanism. Our research will determine how viruses exploit cellular waste disposal pathways to send signals that undermine our immune system, and ways to block this harmful messaging system to keep our defense systems intact.