Degree
Doctor of Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences-Pathobiological Sciences (PVMPB)
Department
PBS Department
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Pneumoviruses are among the leading causes of viral respiratory infections in infants, elderly and immunocompromised patients. In the airways, alveolar macrophages form the first line of defense: they detect invading pathogens, produce type I and III interferons as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, and coordinate antimicrobial activities. Upon viral challenge, macrophages rapidly sense pneumovirus components through pattern‐recognition receptors and mount a robust interferon response. Meanwhile, respiratory epithelial cells serve as the primary sites of viral replication and contribute to the innate immunity. Given the central roles of these two cell populations, this study investigates the molecular interplay that governs their antiviral functions. Specifically, we examine: (1) interferon induction in macrophages, (2) the antiviral activities of type I and type III Interferons, (3) the mechanisms of macrophage activation and cytokine regulation, and (4) the strategies by which pneumoviruses evade the molecular mechanism of antimicrobial control. Our findings shed light on the coordinated network of induction, activation, regulation and evasion events that determine infection outcome, and may inform the development of targeted interventions to bolster host resistance against pneumovirus-mediated disease.
Date
7-14-2025
Recommended Citation
Martinez-Espinoza, Ivan, "CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE MODULATED BY RESPIRATORY PNEUMOVIRUSES IN MACROPHAGES AND EPITHELIAL CELLS" (2025). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6876.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6876
Committee Chair
Guerrero-Plata, Antonieta
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.6876