Obesity-Related Microenvironment Promotes Emergence of Virulent Influenza Virus Strains.

ABSTRACT: Obesity is associated with increased disease severity, elevated viral titers in exhaled breath, and significantly prolonged viral shed during influenza A virus infection. Due to the mutable nature of RNA viruses, we questioned whether obesity could also influence influenza virus population diversity. Here, we show that minor variants rapidly emerge in obese mice. The variants exhibit increased viral replication, resulting in enhanced virulence in wild-type mice. The increased diversity of the viral population correlated with decreased type I interferon responses, and treatment of obese mice with recombinant interferon reduced viral diversity, suggesting that the delayed antiviral response exhibited in obesity permits the emergence of a more virulent influenza virus population. This is not

SUBMITTER: Honce R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7064783 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature