Divergent sensory pathways of sneezing and coughing.

Sneezing and coughing are primary symptoms of many respiratory viral infections and allergies. It is generally assumed that sneezing and coughing involve common sensory receptors and molecular neurotransmission mechanisms. Here, we show that the nasal mucosa is innervated by several discrete populations of sensory neurons, but only one population (MrgprC11MrgprA3) mediates sneezing responses to a multitude of nasal irritants, allergens, and viruses.