IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Unique nasal cell states induced by common respiratory viruses

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Video Summary

Jose Ordova-Sabantenas from Boston Children’s presented work on respiratory immunology focused on B-cell-related nasal immune responses and epithelial cell states induced by common respiratory viruses. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of nasopharyngeal swabs, his lab mapped nasal epithelial, immune, and stromal cell populations across SARS-CoV-2, Delta, Omicron, rhinovirus, and RSV infections.<br /><br />Key findings included a diminished intrinsic type I interferon response in severe COVID-19 despite similar viral RNA levels per cell, and variant-specific epithelial states: Delta showed unusually high per-cell viral burden, while Omicron and ancestral strains differed in which cell subsets they infected. Vaccination appeared to shift nasal myeloid populations, especially increasing monocyte/macrophage-like cells in vaccinated Omicron cases.<br /><br />His team then expanded to pediatric cohorts in Boston and globally, profiling children with SARS-CoV-2, rhinovirus, and RSV. They found virus-specific epithelial programs: SARS-CoV-2 drove strong interferon-stimulated states, rhinovirus resembled a type 2/allergic response, and RSV associated with unique keratin-17–positive ciliated cells. Disease severity linked to distinct nasal cell signatures, including cycling CD4 T cells and squamous-like epithelial states in RSV.<br /><br />He concluded that nasal single-cell sampling can reveal in vivo immune dynamics, identify conserved and virus-specific cell states, and help build reference atlases for pediatric respiratory infection.

Meta Tag

Date April 15, 2026 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Room 153C

Session Host Immune Response and Pathogenesis in Viral Respiratory Infections, Sponsored by the Intl. Soc. for Respiratory Viruses (ISRV)

Speaker José Ordovas-Montañes

Track Viral Immunology (VIR)

Year 2026

Keywords

respiratory immunology

single-cell RNA sequencing

nasopharyngeal swabs

nasal epithelial cells

type I interferon response

SARS-CoV-2 variants

pediatric respiratory infections

immune cell states

April 15, 2026 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM

153C

Host Immune Response and Pathogenesis in Viral Respiratory Infections, Sponsored by the Intl. Soc. for Respiratory Viruses (ISRV)

José Ordovas-Montañes

Viral Immunology (VIR)

2026