Murine Type III interferons are functionally redundant and correlate with bacterial burden during influenza/bacterial super-infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Type III interferon, or interferon lambda (IFNλ) is a crucial antiviral cytokine induced by influenza infection. While IFNλ is important for anti-viral host defense, published data demonstrate that IFNλ is pathogenic during influenza/bacterial super-infection. It is known that polymorphisms in specific IFNλ genes affect influenza responses, but the effect of IFNλ subtypes on bacterial super-infection is unknown.

Methods

Using an established model of influenza, Staphylococcus aureus super-infection, we studied IFNλ3-/- and control mice to model a physiologically relevant reduction in IFNλ and to address its role in super-infection.

Results

Surprisingly, IFNλ3-/- mice did not have significantly lower total IFNλ than co-housed controls, and displayed no change

SUBMITTER: Rich HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8496871 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature