333 Oral type 1 interferon protection from lethal influenza virus
The persistence of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus within wild bird populations has forged interest in control measures to limit a possible human pandemic. We have identified an optimal low oral dose of IFN- α that when delivered daily as prophylactic therapy protects C57BL/6J mice from a lethal challenge with mouse adapted human influenza virus A/PR/8/34 H1N1. These results provide strong support for the application of low dose type 1 IFN pretreatment to human influenza control. Additionally, recent data suggests that low dose oral IFN- αA treatment of influenza causes the recruitment of Regulatory T cells from the spleen to the site of inflammation; this response may form the basis of the observed protection from lethal infection.