Low humidity increases influenza disease through caspase-1/11 activation. WT Mx1 mice or caspase-1/11 KO Mx1 mice were preconditioned at 10% and 50% RH for 5 d and challenged with aerosolized hvPR8 at 2 × 105pfu/mL for 15 min (n = 6 mice per group). (A and B) Weight loss was monitored for 14 d. Data are representative of four experiments and means ± SEM *P < 0.05; one-way ANOVA; Student’s t test.
Yale researchers have pinpointed a key reason why people are more likely to get sick and even die from flu during winter months: low humidity. While experts know that cold temperatures and low humidity promote transmission of the flu virus, less is understood about the effect of decreased humidity on the immune system’s defenses against flu infection.
The Yale research team, led by Ak...
Read More
Recent Comments