Effect of influenza virus infection on allergic sensitization to inhaled antigen in mice

Repeated exposure of healthy mice to an aerosol of ovalbumin (OA) leads to the development of IgE-isotype-specific immunological tolerance. However, when initial OA exposure occurs during the acute phase of influenza infection, tolerance does not occur, and the mice instead develop high titres of OA-specific IgE in response to subsequent challenge with the allergen.