Innate immune parameters leading to virus-induced secondary bacterial pneumonia and sepsis.

流感病毒每年导致重大疾病和死亡，这推动了为风险最高的人开发疫苗。然而，人们并没有广泛认识到流感并不总是单独起作用。与细菌结合，这种病毒病要严重得多，预后也很差。这不仅仅是季节性流感病毒株的问题。最近，研究人员重新分析了那些在最严重的大流行期间死亡的人的样本，发现了过多的细菌物种。在很大程度上存在多种细菌物种。为什么它们会在一些流感感染者身上造成问题，而不是其他人？我们认为，既往感染病史和随后的免疫细胞活动状态对此负有责任。我们有证据表明，流感改变了下呼吸道中关键的抗细菌免疫细胞的活动，使它们对细菌扩张并导致肺炎的地方没有反应。我们现在将剖析这种影响，以更好地了解这种组合传染病的全部复杂性。这种分析可能首先确定允许这种病毒引起的细菌问题发生的关键途径，这将有助于确定那些风险最高的人和靶向治疗的潜在途径。我们还将分析具有不同作用模式的抗生素的影响，因为很明显，某些策略会导致更糟糕的结果。本研究将为今后更好地对患者进行知情管理提供可能。

Influenza virus causes significant illness and death annually, which drives the development of vaccines for those most at risk. However, it is not widely appreciated that influenza does not always act alone. In combination with bacteria, this viral disease is much worse and the prognosis poor. This is not simply a problem with seasonal influenza virus strains. Recently, researchers have re-analysed specimens taken from those that died during the most severe pandemics and revealed a plethora of bacterial species. In a large proportion multiple bacterial species were present. Why do they cause a problem in some influenza infected individuals and not others? We believe that an individuals past infection history and consequent status of immune cell activity are responsible. We have evidence that influenza alters the activity of key anti-bacterial immune cells in the lower airways rendering them un-responsive to bacteria where they expand and cause pneumonia. We will now dissect this effect to gain a better understanding of the full complexities of this combined infectious disease. Such analysis may identify critical pathways that allow this virus-induced bacterial problem to occur in the first place, which will assist in the identification of those most at risk and potential avenues for targeted treatment. We will also analyse the impact of antibiotics that have different modes of action since it is clear that some strategies result in a worse outcome. The research will provide a possibility for better informed patient management in the future.