Protocol for influenza A virus infection of mice and viral load determination

Ioanna-Evdokia Galani; Vasiliki Triantafyllia; Evridiki-Evangelia Eleminiadou; Evangelos Andreakos

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101151

Protocol for influenza A virus infection of mice and viral load determination

STAR Protoc. 2022 Feb 3;3(1):101151. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101151. eCollection 2022 Mar 18.

Authors

Ioanna-Evdokia Galani¹, Vasiliki Triantafyllia¹, Evridiki-Evangelia Eleminiadou¹, Evangelos Andreakos^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
² Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Abstract

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are common respiratory viruses. Mouse models of IAV infection are valuable to study the mechanisms of IAV infection and pathology. Here, we present a detailed protocol for IAV infection of mice via intranasal administration. We detail the processing of mouse lung tissue and then describe the determination of viral load by several approaches including RNA, protein, or plaque-forming unit assays. This protocol may be adapted to other influenza strains or respiratory viruses. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Galani et al. (2017).

Keywords: Flow Cytometry/Mass Cytometry; Immunology; Microbiology; Microscopy; Model Organisms; Molecular Biology; Protein Biochemistry.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype* / genetics
Influenza A virus*
Influenza, Human*
Orthomyxoviridae Infections* / pathology
Viral Load