The respiratory microbiota: associations with influenza symptomatology and viral shedding.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Manifestations of infection and the degree of influenza virus vary. We hypothesized that the nose/throat microbiota modifies the duration of influenza symptoms and viral shedding. Exploring these relationships may help identify additional methods for reducing influenza severity and transmission.

Methods

Using a household transmission study in Nicaragua, we identified secondary cases of influenza virus infection, defined as contacts with detectable virus or a greater than 4-fold change in hemagglutinin inhibition antibody titer. We characterized the nose/throat microbiota of secondary cases before infection and explored whether the duration of symptoms and shedding differed by bacterial community characteristics.

Results

Among 124 secondary cases of influenza,

SUBMITTER: Lee KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6755049 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature