Establish a new infection animal model for influenza research

  Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus. It is mainly transmitted through droplets, human contact, and contact with pollutants. It has the characteristics of strong infectivity and high morbidity. It is easy to cause outbreaks and is harmful to human public health. Pose a serious threat.

  Influenza vaccine is an effective measure to prevent and control influenza epidemics. In the research to evaluate the effectiveness and protective effects of new influenza vaccines, animal (mice, ferrets, etc.) infection models are often used as experimental methods. In previous studies on influenza infection models, one-time large-dose influenza viruses were usually used to attack the infection. In the process of natural infection, influenza virus may repeatedly contact the infected people in a certain space and time, and the virus dose of the infected people may be very limited each time. Therefore, the establishment of an animal model of influenza infection that is closer to the natural infection situation is of great significance for the study of the immunopathology of the influenza virus infected host and the development of vaccines or antiviral drugs. Under the guidance of researcher Zhou Dongming, assistant researcher Song Yufeng of the Anti-infection Immunity and Vaccine Research Group of Shanghai Pasteur Institute, PhD student Wang Xiang, etc., established a mouse model of low-dose influenza virus repeated infection and studied the pathology of the model. , Immune response and its application prospects in the evaluation of commercial vaccine titers. Studies have found that repeated low-dose influenza virus infection can accumulate higher virus titers in mice, causing more serious pathological damage, and quickly leading to weight loss and individual death. At the same time, this model can induce a higher inflammasome response. In addition, the study found that the traditional inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine can protect mice from a single high-dose influenza virus challenge infection, but cannot resist low-dose influenza virus repeated challenge infections, suggesting that this animal model is useful in vaccine effectiveness evaluation. Very good application value. This study established for the first time an animal model more similar to natural influenza infection, providing a true and effective technical platform for influenza research.