How the body's natural antiviral protein affects heart damage during severe flu
Mechanisms of innate resistance to virus infections
This project looks at whether a natural antiviral protein called IFITM3 helps protect the heart during severe influenza infections in people who are prone to serious flu complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259473 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mice that lack the antiviral protein IFITM3 — a model that reflects common human susceptibilities — to recreate severe influenza that reaches the heart. They will follow how the virus moves from the lung to heart tissue, determine whether it replicates inside the heart, and identify viral features that promote cardiac infection. The team will measure heart electrical function, inflammation, and scarring, and test how changing immune responses or IFITM3 function affects heart damage. Results are intended to point toward ways to prevent or treat heart complications from severe influenza in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had severe influenza with heart complications or who are known to carry IFITM3 genetic variants would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical follow-up or future trials.
Not a fit: Individuals with mild seasonal flu that never affects the heart or patients whose heart disease is unrelated to infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify ways to prevent or reduce heart injury from severe influenza, leading to better treatments or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Human genetic studies have linked IFITM3 deficiencies to severe influenza, but using IFITM3-deficient mice to study direct heart infection and dysfunction is a relatively new and novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yount, Jacob — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Yount, Jacob
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.