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When humans are infected with influenza virus, cells in our airways begin producing large amounts of cytokines and chemokines – proteins that act as chemical messengers. These messengers trigger inflammation and make the airways hyper-responsive. This can be especially troublesome for those with chronic lung diseases. Dr. Xinya Lu is working to identify the molecular mechanisms regulating the production of chemokines during influenza infection. Specifically, he is exploring how the cellular P13K/AKT signalling pathways, and the NFkB transcription factor, regulate the massive production of IP-10 cytokines during influenza infection. The research will provide a better understanding of influenza virus and contribute to new strategies to prevent and treat excessive inflammation during infection.

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