Viruses (Dec 2017)

A Two-Dimensional Human Minilung System (Model) for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections

  • Esmeralda Magro-Lopez,
  • Trinidad Guijarro,
  • Isidoro Martinez,
  • Maria Martin-Vicente,
  • Isabel Liste,
  • Alberto Zambrano

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v9120379
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 12
p. 379

Abstract

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Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of serious pediatric respiratory diseases that lacks effective vaccine or specific therapeutics. Although our understanding about HRSV biology has dramatically increased during the last decades, the need for adequate models of HRSV infection is compelling. We have generated a two-dimensional minilung from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The differentiation protocol yielded at least six types of lung and airway cells, although it is biased toward the generation of distal cells. We show evidence of HRSV replication in lung cells, and the induction of innate and proinflammatory responses, thus supporting its use as a model for the study of HRSV–host interactions.

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