New Human-Based Model to Test Influenza Effects

Testing the effects of influenza viruses is important to identify the major influenza viral strains, design vaccines, and antiviral therapies. Scientists from University of Louisville have recently used a novel in vitro model of human bronchial epithelial cells (wd-NHBE, called EpiAirway PC-12) to test how pandemic and seasonal influenza A viruses replicate and differentiate in vitro. They found differences in temporal dynamics and levels of cytokines and chemokines released by wd-NHBE cells (indicative of inflammatory response) upon infection comparing the tested viral strains. Their data suggest that the EpiAirway model might be suitable to assess virus replication and understand interactions between the virus and the host environment.