FILAMENTOUS INFLUENZA VIRUS AND MICROBIAL COLONIZATION

描述(由申请人提供)： 从甲型流感病毒感染中康复的人表现出对继发性细菌性肺部感染的易感性增加，特别是病原体化脓性链球菌和肺炎链球菌。通常，这些继发性细菌性肺炎是致命的，特别是在老年人和免疫功能低下的患者中。这种对继发性链球菌感染易感性增加的机制(S)尚不清楚。我们推测，这种对细菌双重感染易感性的增加是由于甲型流感病毒的丝状形式显著促进了致病性链球菌与呼吸道粘膜的黏附。在这一应用中的实验将确定丝状甲型流感病毒是否可以直接作为细菌结合的受体，或者是否通过感染流感病毒改变呼吸道粘膜以促进细菌粘附性的增加。同时，我们还将确定先前的细菌定植是否会影响流感病毒在呼吸道上皮细胞的复制。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Individuals recovering from influenza A virus infection demonstrate an increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial pulmonary infections, particularly with the pathogens Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Quite often, these secondary bacterial pneumonias are fatal, especially in geriatric and immunocompromized patients. The mechanism(s) behind this increased susceptibility to a secondary streptococcal infection are unknown. We hypothesize that this increased susceptibility to bacterial super-infection is due to a filamentous form of influenza A virus significantly facilitating the adhesion of pathogenic streptococci to respiratory mucosa. Experiments in this application will determine if filamentous influenza A virus can directly serve as a receptor for bacterial binding or if the respiratory mucosa is altered by infection with influenza virus to promote increased bacterial adherence. In parallel, we will also determine whether prior bacterial colonization can affect influenza virus replication in respiratory epithelium.