IDSA Reading Room | Peter J. Halfmann, PhD, About SARS-CoV-2 Interference of Influenza Virus Replication

Infection Multiple respiratory viruses It is not uncommon, especially for inpatients.However mechanism A single viral infection can be altered or affected by another viral infection, and the impact on the outcome of the disease remains unclear.

To better understand the consequences of simultaneous and continuous viruses Coinfection Using H3N2 influenza virus and SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), how a host factor induced by one virus suppresses the other virus, Wisconsin University Influenza Institute (UW)-Madison Dr. Peter J. Halfmann, and colleagues turned to the golden of Syria hamster..

Their findings in animal models showed that previous or concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection with H3N2 influenza virus infection resulted in a significant reduction in influenza virus titers in lung and nasal turbinates. They reported that influenza virus suppression was observed even when H3N2 infection occurred 3 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Infectious disease journal.

They added that this interference may correlate with SARS-CoV-2 -induced expression of host factors such as the antiviral gene Mx protein 1 (Mx1).

Halfmann et al. Also found that induction of Mx1 by influenza virus did not affect SARS-CoV-2 replication, and further research is needed for the potential antagonism of Mx1 function by SARS-CoV-2. I concluded that.

“The consequences of co- and serial infections of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus may depend on the subtype of influenza virus,” they suggest. Previous research The proportion of hamsters infected with the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 reported high influenza virus titers and more serious disease outcomes.

“This difference in results may be due to better replication of the H1N1 influenza virus in hamsters compared to the H3N2 influenza virus, or strong resistance to the Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Antiviral gene MX1“The author writes. “The outcome of co-infection may also depend on the SARS-CoV-2 mutant used to infect hamsters. This variable has not been investigated in current studies, but has emerged SARS-CoV. -2 variant. “

In the next interview, Associate Professor Halfman Kawaoka Laboratory of the Institute, Discussed the findings in more detail. He is also a member of the Pathological Biology Department of the UW Veterinary School.

Given these discoveries, what is your current hypothesis?

Halfman: We found that early infection with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in almost complete inhibition of consecutive influenza virus infections, even 21 days between the two infections in the hamster model. Our hypothesis is that the initial infection of SARS-CoV-2, along with residual viral material such as viral RNA after acute infection, induces a potent antiviral state that limits influenza virus, presumably by the antiviral gene MX. is.

Can influenza virus subtypes affect the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the clinical setting?

Halfman: Influenza virus subtypes that better replicate in the human lung and can cause damage can exacerbate SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals.

What is your message to your physician about the clinical consequences of simultaneous and serial infections of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus?

Halfman: The pandemic may have given us a blindfold against other circulating respiratory viruses. For the “influenza” season, test patients for both influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2.

Can a better understanding of viral co-infection in the current pandemic prepare for future pandemics?

Halfman: By studying coinfection, you can gain insight into the severity of potentially pandemic viral illnesses. But more importantly, continued support and funding for basic research on viruses, host infections, and virus discovery is needed to delve deeper into the biology and identification of potentially pandemic viruses. ..

What’s next for your research?

Halfman: We will continue to develop and characterize models for the study of coinfection and continue to determine how the new SARS-CoV-2 variant will alter the outcome of coinfection.

You can read the research outline Here..