Whether influenza virus replication in macrophages is productive or abortive has been a topic of debate. Utilizing a panel of 28 distinct human, avian, and swine influenza viruses, we found that only a small subset can overcome cellular blocks to productively replicate in murine and primary human macrophages. Murine macrophages have two cellular blocks. The first block is during viral entry, where virions with relatively acid-stable hemagglutinin (HA) proteins are rendered incapable of pH-induced triggering for membrane fusion, resulting in lysosomal degradation. The second block is downstream of viral replication but upstream of late protein synthesis. In contrast, primary human macrophages only have one cellular block that occurs after late protein synthesis. To determine the impact of abortive replication at different stages of the viral life cycle or productive replication on macrophage function, we assessed cytotoxicity, nitric oxide or reactive oxygen species production, and phagocytosis. Intriguingly, productive viral replication decreased phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized bioparticles and Fc receptor CD16 and CD32 surface levels, a function, to our knowledge, never before reported for an RNA virus. These data suggest that replication in macrophages affects cellular function and plays an important role in pathogenesis during infection in vivo.IMPORTANCE Macrophages are a critical first line of defense against respiratory pathogens. Thus, understanding how viruses evade or exploit macrophage function will provide greater insight into viral pathogenicity and antiviral responses. We previously showed that only a subset of highly pathogenic avian (HPAI) H5N1 influenza virus strains could productively replicate in murine macrophages through a hemagglutinin (HA)-mediated mechanism. These studies expand upon this work and demonstrate that productive replication is not specific to unique HPAI H5N1 viruses; an H1N1 strain (A/WSN/33) can also replicate in macrophages. Importantly, we identify two cellular blocks limiting replication that can be overcome by an avian-like pH of activation for nuclear entry and a yet-to-be-identified mechanism(s) to overcome a postnuclear entry block. Overcoming these blocks reduces the cell's ability to phagocytose IgG-opsonized bioparticles by decreasing Fc receptor surface levels, a mechanism previously thought to occur during bacterial and DNA viral infections.KEYWORDS influenza, macrophage, replication M acrophages are one of the first lines of defense against infection. They are poised to secrete large amounts of cytokines, orchestrate the adaptive immune system, and clear infected and dying cells to aid in recovery (1). Further, alveolar macrophages are essential in preventing respiratory failure after infection (2) and for preventing bacterial superinfections during influenza infection (3). However, such responses must be tightly regulated, as excessive cytokine levels contribute to immunopathology and disease severity during infection (4-6).

Little is known about intrinsic epithelial cell responses against astrovirus infection. Here we show that human astrovirus type 1 (HAstV-1) infection induces type I interferon (beta interferon [IFN-␤]) production in differentiated Caco2 cells, which not only inhibits viral replication by blocking positive-strand viral RNA and capsid protein synthesis but also protects against HAstV-1-increased barrier permeability. Excitingly, we found similar results in vivo using a murine astrovirus (MuAstV) model, providing new evidence that virus-induced type I IFNs may protect against astrovirus replication and pathogenesis in vivo. IMPORTANCEHuman astroviruses are a major cause of pediatric diarrhea, yet little is known about the immune response. Here we show that type I interferon limits astrovirus infection and preserves barrier permeability both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, we characterized a new mouse model for studying astrovirus replication and pathogenesis. The successful replication and spread of many enteric viruses depend upon modulating immune factors produced by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) including interferons (IFNs) (1, 2). For instance, enteric adenoviruses are sensitive to IEC-produced type I IFNs, unlike respiratory adenoviruses (3), while rotavirus exploits type I IFN signaling in IECs to promote early viral replication (4). However, nothing is known about the impact of IFN on astrovirus infection.Astroviruses are small, nonenveloped, RNA viruses that are one of the most important causes of pediatric acute gastroenteritis worldwide (5-8). Infection begins by binding to an unidentified receptor(s) on epithelial cells after fecal-oral transmission followed by entry via endosomes (9). After viral uncoating, the positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome is translated into a polyprotein precursor that is subsequently cleaved into proteins required for replication and the assembly of progeny virions. The genome contains three open reading frames: ORF1a, ORF1b, and ORF2. ORF1a and ORF1b encode nonstructural proteins involved in transcription and replication of the virus, while ORF2 encodes the capsid protein (10, 11). Negative-strand RNA is produced from the positive genomic strand, which can be detected 6 to 12 h postinfection (hpi) (12). Transcription of the negativestrand genome yields the genomic and subgenomic RNA. Human astrovirus (HAstV) proteins have been associated with membranes in infected cells likely serving as the site for replication and assembly (13-15). After assembly, the progeny virions egress from the cell, a process promoted by caspase activation (16).Recently, Guix et al. found that HAstV type 4 (HAstV-4) replication induces type I IFN production and that pretreatment of Caco2 cells with beta interferon (IFN-␤) reduced HAstV-4 capsid protein synthesis and progeny virion production (17). However, whether the IFN-␤ produced during astrovirus infection is sufficient to limit astrovirus replication, and at what step in the viral life cycle IFN-␤ affects astrovirus, remains...

The human immune response to eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) infection is poorly characterized due to the rarity of infection. We examined the humoral and cellular immune response to EEEV acquired from an infected donor via liver transplantation. Both binding and highly neutralizing antibodies to EEEV as well as a robust EEEV-specific IgG memory B cell response were generated. Despite triple-drug immunosuppressive therapy, a virus-specific CD4+ T cell response, predominated by interferon-γ production, was generated. T cell epitopes on the E2 envelope protein were identified by interferon-γ ELISpot. Although these results are from a single person who acquired EEEV by a non-traditional mechanism, to our knowledge this work represents the first analysis of the human cellular immune response to EEEV.