| Title | Infant Immune Response to Respiratory Viral Infections. | ||
| Author | Heinonen, Santtu; Rodriguez-Fernandez, Rosa; Diaz, Alejandro; Oliva Rodriguez-Pastor, Silvia; Ramilo, Octavio; Mejias, Asuncion | ||
| Journal | Immunol Allergy Clin North Am | Publication Year/Month | 2019-Aug |
| PMID | 31284926 | PMCID | PMC6625527 |
| Affiliation + expend | 1.New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, PO Box 347, Helsinki 00029 HUS, Finland. | ||
Of all respiratory viruses that affect infants, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus (RV) represent the leading pathogens causing acute disease (bronchiolitis) and are associated with the development of recurrent wheezing and asthma. The immune system in infants is still developing, and several factors contribute to their increased susceptibility to viral infections. These factors include differences in pathogen detection, weaker interferon responses, lack of immunologic memory toward the invading pathogen, and T-cell responses that are balanced to promote tolerance and restrain inflammation. These aspects are reviewed here with a focus on RSV and RV infections.