Co-localization of influenza A virus and voltage-dependent calcium channels provides new perspectives on the internalization process in pigs.

Influenza A virus (IAV) is an RNA virus that causes respiratory disease in a wide range of mammals including humans and pigs. Ca(v)1.2 is a specific voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) important for the internalization of IAV and VDCC inhibitors can decrease IAV disease severity in mice. In this paper, the distribution pattern of a range of VDCCs by immunohistochemistry and Ca(v)1.2 by in situ hybridization in the porcine respiratory tract is documented for the first time. Furthermore, we showed co-localization of VDCC-positive and IAV-positive cells in experimentally infected pigs. These findings provide new perspectives on the IAV internalization process and pave the way for further research investigating the effect of VDDC inhibitors on the IAV infection dynamics in pigs, which could have relevance to humans too.