Pathogenesis Induced by Influenza Virus Infection: Role of the Early Events of the Infection and the Innate Immune Response.

Infections by influenza A virus (IAV) are a significant cause of global mortality. The pathogenesis of the infection is usually studied in terms of direct viral-induced damage or the overreactive immune response that continues after the virus is cleared. However, factors such as the initial infectious dose, the early response after infection in different cell types, and the presence of autoantibodies for relevant antiviral cytokines like type I IFNs seem to influence the course of the infection and lead to fatal outcomes. In this article, we address the current knowledge about the early events during influenza virus infection, which are important for their participation in influenza-derived pathogenesis.