FimH, a TLR4 ligand, induces innate antiviral responses in the lung leading to protection against lethal influenza infection in mice

Fimbriae H protein (FimH) is a novel TLR4 ligand that has been shown to stimulate the innate immune system and elicits protective responses against bacterial and viral infections. Here, we evaluated the protective role of local delivery of FimH against influenza A infection in a mouse model. We show that intranasal delivery of FimH prior to lethal challenge with influenza A virus, resulted in decreased morbidity and mortality in wild-type, but …