IFNγ-Driven Inflammatory Responses in the Nasal Mucosa Drive Influenza Virus Shedding and Transmission
Stacey Bartlett, Hedy L. Rocha, Leon L. Hsieh, Stephen T. Yeung, Chan Wang, Grace O. Ciabattoni, Cynthia A. Loomis, Huilin Li, Benjamin Robert tenOever, Mila Brum Ortigoza
This study shows that IFNγ-driven inflammation in the nasal mucosa increases influenza virus shedding and transmission, linking infectiousness to host immune responses rather than viral replication alone.
bioRxiv · Jan 7, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology