| Description |
Influenza A virus (IAV) infection has a wide clinical spectrum, from mild illness to life-threatening pneumonia, yet the underlying immune determinants of disease remain poorly defined. Here, we present the first large-scale single-cell transcriptomic atlas of peripheral immune response to human IAV infection. Profiling peripheral immune mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a cohort of IAV-infected patients and healthy donors, we delineate the cellular composition and transcriptional programs of the immune response, and provide a foundational immune blueprint for human IAV infection. Analysis of this atlas revealed key immune signatures and intercellular communication networks associated with disease severity. Specifically, the core objective of this study was to analyze the dynamics of peripheral immune cell subsets and key regulatory pathways in mild and severe IAV infections, and to provide an experimental basis for targeted immunotherapy. |