Abstract

CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY STUDIES OF SWINE FLU VIRAL INFECTION (by H1N1 VIRUS) IN SWINES

Ammar Akram*

ABSTRACT

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract of pigs and result in a barking cough, decreased appetite, nasal secretions, and listless behavior; the virus can be transmitted to humans. Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is a relatively new strain of an influenza virus that causes symptoms similar to the regular flu. The influenza disease burden in the human population remains significant even with current vaccine usage, and much about the pathogenesis and transmission of influenza viruses in human’s remains unclear.Thus, animal models are a fundamental tool for influenza research to understand mechanisms of virulence. Swine are considered one of the major animal species used in translational research. They are similar to humans in terms of anatomy, genetics and physiology. The similarities with humans in virology studies of IAV (Influenza A-Virus) make pigs a good animal model to study that disease. Notwithstanding, the knowledge of porcine immune system is still limited. The immune response to IAV is here briefly described.The aim of the study is to understand better the pathogenesis of H1N1 influenza virus and associated host mucosal immune responses during acute infection in humans. Therefore, we chose a H1N1 swine influenza virus, Sw/OH/24366/07 (SwIV), which has a history of transmission to humans.

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