Influenza-binding antibodies immobilise influenza viruses in fresh human airwayxc2xa0mucus

[摘要] ExtractAirway mucus is thought to serve as a dynamic filter that can trap respiratory viruses in the dense mucin network [1]; and quickly eliminate them along with airway mucus from the respiratory tract. Nevertheless; viruses must penetrate airway mucus to infect the airway epithelium; and we and others have found that various viruses can readily penetrate physiological mucus gels [2xe2x80x934]. We were particularly interested in whether airway mucus can serve as a barrier against influenza viruses; due to the prevalence and health burden of seasonal outbreaks. It has been suggested that airway mucus protects against influenza by presenting sialylated xe2x80x9cdecoysxe2x80x9d on mucins that bind to influenza haemagglutinin and trap the virions in mucus. Alternatively; we have shown that antibodies in cervicovaginal mucus can trap viruses via multiple low-affinity Fcxe2x80x93mucin bonds between antibodies on the virus surface and mucins; akin to a Velcro patch [4]. To gain insight into how airway mucus might serve as a barrier against influenza; we characterised the mobility of influenza virions and virus-like particles (VLPs) in human airway mucus using real-time high-resolution multiple particle tracking.

[学科分类] 呼吸医学