We conclude that a well-regulated IFN response, with the ability to overcome early viral immune inhibition, without hyperinflammation, contributes to the ability of ducks to survive H5N1 influenza replication in their airways, and yet clear systemic infection and limit disease.
Moreover, duck AvIFIT binds to nucleoprotein (NP) of H5N1 influenza virus and upregulates the expression of genes involving the IFN pathway in DF1 cells.
In particular, activation of NF-kappaB is a bottleneck for the expression of IFN-beta and thus influences the expression of IFN-dependent genes indirectly in the primary innate immune response against H5N1 influenza virus.