Keynote Presentation: Interferons: Friends or Foes in Lung Virus Infections? With Live Q&A

The immune system evolved to protect us against pathogen invasion and to maintain tissue homeostasis. Fundamental for these functions are the interferons (IFNs), a group of cytokines that belongs to three major families: IFN-I, IFN-II, and IFN-III. The amount of interferons produced during an immune response is well known to determine the balance between anti-microbial functions and interferon-mediated diseases, known as interferonopathies. Here, we will discuss how, beside the amount, the type of IFN produced, as well as the location and timing of their production, affect the immune response in the respiratory tract during a viral infection. Furthermore, we will present data that demonstrate how the production of IFNs in a specific anatomical location can be exploited to design new adjuvants that increase the efficacy of vaccines against life-threatening virus infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, or Influenza A Virus.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the responses induced by interferons during COVID-19.

2. Discuss how the physical properties of microbial ligands affect the immune response in the lymph node.

3. Discuss how the immune system balance anti-microbial and tissue damaging responses.