Influenza A virus suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication during co-infection

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv preprint server, researchers examine the interactions between the influenza A virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a co-infected host, as well as the interactions between these viruses and the host using human airway epithelium cultures from co-exposed hosts. Background The circulation of emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants, the recent resurgence of the influenza A virus, and the winter seasonality of the two viruses have increased the probability of co-infections. Although co-infections are thought to exacerbate one or both viral infections, studies suggest that viral interference, which occurs when one virus reduces the replication rate of the other, is also possible. The induction of interferon (FIN) response, an antiviral defense mechanism induced by respiratory viruses that can suppress the replication of other viruses, is hypothesized to be one mechanism through which viral interference occurs. The replication of the viral genome triggers the IFN response in...