A. C. Lowen

Ventilation does not affect influenza virus transmission efficiency in a ferret playpen setup

This study shows that ventilation rates do not affect influenza virus transmission efficiency in a ferret playpen setup with close-range interactions and fomites.

Viral expansion after transfer is a primary driver of influenza A virus transmission bottlenecks

This study identifies viral expansion after transfer as a key factor in influenza A virus transmission bottlenecks, showing that diversity declines rapidly post-infection.

Genetic drift and purifying selection shape within-host influenza A virus populations during natural swine infections

This study examines within-host influenza A virus diversity and evolution in swine, finding low genetic diversity and evidence of purifying selection and genetic drift.

Influenza A virus coinfection dynamics are shaped by distinct virus-virus interactions within and between cells

This study investigates how influenza A virus coinfection dynamics are influenced by virus-virus interactions within and between cells, finding both beneficial intracellular interactions and antagonistic host-level competition.

Memory CD4 T cell subset organization in the female reproductive tract is regulated via the menstrual cycle through CCR5 signaling

Epistasis reduces fitness costs of influenza A virus escape from stem-binding antibodies

This study shows that influenza A virus escape from stem-binding antibodies incurs fitness costs, but epistatic interactions can mitigate these costs in some contexts.

Beneficial effects of cellular coinfection resolve inefficiency in influenza A virus transcription

This study identifies how multiple influenza A virus infections enhance transcription efficiency by overcoming endonuclease activity limitations in the GFHK99 strain.

Influenza A virus reassortment in mammals gives rise to genetically distinct within-host sub-populations

This study examines reassortment dynamics of influenza A virus in guinea pigs, ferrets, and swine, finding reassortment is common but more frequent in ferrets and guinea pigs than swine, with spatial compartmentalization observed.

A single amino acid substitution in PB1 of pandemic H1N1 with A/Ann Arbor/6/60 master donor virus mutations as a novel live-attenuated influenza virus vaccine

This paper shows that a single amino acid change in the PB1 protein of the pandemic H1N1 virus can create a live-attenuated vaccine with reduced pathogenicity and transmission.

Timing of exposure is critical in a highly sensitive model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission

This study shows that the timing of SARS-CoV-2 exposure, particularly during peak viral load, is the strongest determinant of transmission success in golden Syrian hamsters.

Host Factor Rab11a is Critical for Efficient Assembly of Influenza A Virus Genomic Segments

This study identifies Rab11a as a critical host factor for influenza A virus genome assembly by facilitating vRNP congregation and specific interactions.

Avian influenza A viruses reassort and diversify differently in mallards and mammals

This study compares avian influenza A virus reassortment in mallards and guinea pigs, finding higher reassortant frequencies and diversity in mallards.

Rab11a mediates cell-cell spread and reassortment of influenza A virus genomes via tunneling nanotubes.

This paper identifies Rab11a's role in facilitating cell-cell spread of influenza A virus genomes via tunneling nanotubes, enabling genome reassortment and bypassing extracellular barriers.

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 genomes are currently circulating at low levels

The paper identifies 1175 putative recombinant SARS-CoV-2 genomes from over 537,000 sequences, estimates they make up at most 5% of circulating viruses in the USA and UK, and highlights substitutions of concern in some recombinants.

Type I and Type III IFN Restrict SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Human Airway Epithelial Cultures

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 infects human airway epithelial cultures, induces pro-inflammatory cytokines, and is inhibited by type I and III IFNs.

Collective interactions augment influenza A virus replication in a host-dependent manner

The paper shows that influenza A virus requires collective interactions for replication in mammalian cells but not in avian cells, with the PA gene segment playing a key role.

Quantifying memory CD8 T cell-mediated immune pressure on influenza A virus infection in vivo

This study quantifies the immune pressure exerted by memory CD8 T cells on influenza A virus in vivo, showing that an epitope-escaping mutation confers a fitness advantage under certain immune conditions.

Dysregulation of M segment gene expression contributes to influenza A virus host restriction

This study identifies dysregulation of M segment gene expression, particularly M2 overexpression, as a key factor in avian influenza A virus restriction in mammalian hosts.

A method for the unbiased quantification of reassortment in segmented viruses

This paper introduces a method to quantify unbiased reassortment in segmented viruses using genetic tagging and high-resolution melt technology.

Incomplete influenza A virus genomes are abundant but readily complemented during spatially structured viral spread

The paper quantifies incomplete influenza A virus genomes (IVGs) and shows they require complementation for replication, but spatial structure facilitates this process, supporting viral spread but not transmission.

Why Are CD8 T Cell Epitopes of Human Influenza A Virus Conserved?

This paper investigates why CD8 T cell epitopes of influenza A virus are conserved, proposing mechanisms that explain their persistence despite potential escape variants.