Understanding the role of cell death during severe influenza virus infections

Excessive inflammation, cell death and immunopathology are characteristic features of fatal viral infections of the lung. Experts predict another influenza A virus (IAV) pandemic is inevitable. Without safe and effective therapies that protect against damaging host responses, we are ill-prepared. While the molecular mechanisms involved in the induction of inflammation during IAV infection have been well studied, the pathways involved in IAV-induced cell death and their impact on immunopathology have not been fully elucidated. This project aims to gain a greater understanding of the role of cell death in modulating inflammation and viral replication and explore the therapeutic strategy of targeting cell death to limit IAV disease. We will utilise in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical influenza infection models. Techniques that will be employed include flow cytometry, microscopy, histology, western blot, ELISA, cytokine bead array, and viral plaque assays etc.