Alveolar Macrophages in Influenza A Infection Guarding the Castle with Sleeping Dragons.

Despite major advances in influenza vaccination and flu-prevention community awareness campaigns, Influenza A virus (IAV) remains a worldwide and recurring threat [1, 2]. Seasonal influenza causes 3-5 million cases of severe respiratory and systemic illness and upwards of 650,000 deaths annually, particularly among the elderly, very young, and chronically ill [3]. Countless hours of missed school and work have significant economic consequences [4, 5]. In pandemic years, morbidity and mortality soars, especially among the young [6, 7].