Grant: Operating Grant

This research program is aimed at understanding how the body reacts to infection by viruses such as the Influenza virus, which is the pathological agent of flu. The Influenza virus causes a severe infection of airways (pneumonia) and is reponsible for more than 20,000 deaths annually in the U.S.A only. We will investigate if the immune response to viral infection in the lungs triggers the formation of a group of natural substances called the "lipidic mediators of inflammation". In fact, it is believed that it is the inflammatory reaction induced by the infection that causes the disease (and death) rather than the viral multiplication itself. These studies will provide very important informations which could rapidly lead to improvement of the treatment (using already available drugs) of flu and other airway infections such as infections by the SARS coronavirus, as well as of pneumonia caused by bacteria and fungi.