Researchers discover potential key to reducing lung damage in severe influenza

This study discovered that a signaling protein called CRCR3 attracts CD8+ T cells, which are a type of white blood cell which kill virus-infected cells but could lead to lung damage during a flu infection. This is important because it can lead to new treatments for severe influenza while reducing lung damage and accelerating recovery. Co-author Jintao Xu, PhD was funded by a Catalyst Award for his work on developing immune-based treatment for fungal diseases.