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Influenza viruses infect the epithelial cells of the swine respiratory tract. Cell lines derived from the respiratory tract of pigs could serve as an excellent in vitro model for studying the pathogenesis of influenza viruses. In this study, we examined the replication of influenza viruses in the MK1-OSU cell line, which was clonally derived from pig airway epithelium. MK1-OSU cells expressed both cytokeratin and vimentin proteins and displayed several sugar moieties on the cell membrane. These cells also expressed both Sial2-3Gal and Sial2-6Gal receptors and were susceptible to swine influenza A, but not to human B and C viruses. Interestingly, these cells were also permissive to infection by influenza D virus that utilized 9-O-acetylated glycans. To study the differences in the expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) upon influenza virus infection in the respiratory and digestive tract, we compared the protein expression of various PRRs in MK1-OSU cells with that in the SD-PJEC cell line, a clonally derived cell line from the porcine jejunal epithelium. Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR-7) and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) receptors showed decreased expression in influenza A infected MK1-OSU cells, while only TLR-7 expression decreased in SD-PJEC cells. Further research is warranted to study the mechanism behind the virus-mediated suppression of these proteins. Overall, this study shows that the porcine respiratory epithelial cell line, MK1-OSU, could serve as an in-vitro model for studying the pathogenesis and innate immune responses to porcine influenza viruses.

INTRODUCTION Designing lighting for zero-net energy buildings poses unique and fascinating design problems. Beyond the challenge of providing lighting loads on the order of .1W/sqft2, these projects require toolsets beyond the typical scope of a lighting design consultant, including detailed controls design and photometric predictions of available daylighting. These new roles are part of a broader trend in lighting design as, driven by new code requirements and a general push towards high-performing buildings, lighting design is becoming a more technical, metrics-driven profession. There's a delicate balancing act here, and indeed we have the same responsibility to these projects as any other: lighting that is comfortable and functional for the occupants, that supports the architectural gesture, and that is available within the project budget. So the task is not simply to design the absolute minimum energy density (although yes, also that), but rather to identify ways in which all of these constraints may...