Deciphering the role of antiviral innate immune mechanisms among respiratory viruses

Multiple respiratory viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses (for instance, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic virus) can concurrently or sequentially infect the respiratory tract leading to virus-virus interactions. These interactions can be positive (additive or synergistic) or negative (antagonistic). In this research proposal, we will be studying negative interactions, an entity called viral interference. In this case, a first virus reduces the replication of a second virus for a certain period of time and such effect will be assessed at the population level as well as in permissive animal models and human epithelial cells. Furthermore, a first stimulation with virus or a vaccine has been also associated with long term innate non-specific immunity towards an unrelated virus, a phenomena called trained immunity. We hypothesize that a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in innate host resistance may improve mathematical models of transmission predicting epidemic peaks and pandemic waves and lead to the development of novel wide-spectrum prophylactic and therapeutic modalities against respiratory viruses.