# Elucidating Virus:Host Interactions of Human Parainfluenza Virus 3 in a Novel Human Lung Tissue Explant Model

> **NIH NIH F31** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2020 · $45,360

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Human parainfluenza virus 3 (HPIV3) constitutes a major public health concern in the United States as it is the
second largest cause of hospitalization in children under the age of five and responsible for high mortality in
immunocompromised adults. Studying HPIV3 has traditionally been conducted using cell lines, small rodent
models and human airway epithelial models, all of which have limitations with regards to their ability to provide
insights into human disease in the lung. To address this gap in knowledge, we have developed a novel lung
model using whole human lung tissue explants. In preliminary data, we utilized a recently developed GFP-
tagged HPIV3 to infect human lung tissue and show that HPIV3 can replicate robustly in this system, as
assessed by the presence of GFP-positive cells detected by flow cytometry. We hypothesize that evaluation of
HPIV3 infection in this human lung tissue model will elucidate novel virus:host interactions and provide insights
into the pathogenesis of HPIV3 in humans. In Aim 1, we will use GFP-tagged HPIV3 to infect human lung
tissues to identify the infected cell types and evaluate the transcriptional changes induced by infection using
single cell RNA sequencing. In Aim 2, we will characterize the inflammatory response induced by HPIV3 by
examining the induction of chemokines/cytokines using multiplex ELISA, and identify the extent to which these
inflammatory mediators that induce morbidity are produced from infected cells and/or bystander cells. These
data will provide novel insights into how HPIV3 causes disease and have the potential to identify novel
immunotherapeutic or antiviral targets. This project offers a unique training opportunity, as it meshes molecular
cloning, traditional virology techniques, cutting edge single cell RNA sequencing technologies, translational
research and high dimensional data analysis with thorough mentorship on how to become a successful
academic scientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9991269
- **Project number:** 1F31HL149295-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Joshua Acklin
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,360
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9991269

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9991269, Elucidating Virus:Host Interactions of Human Parainfluenza Virus 3 in a Novel Human Lung Tissue Explant Model (1F31HL149295-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9991269. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*