Respiratory Bacteria Stabilize and Promote Airborne Transmission of Influenza A Virus.

ABSTRACT: Influenza A virus (IAV) is a major pathogen of the human respiratory tract, where the virus coexists and interacts with bacterial populations comprising the respiratory tract microbiome. Synergies between IAV and respiratory bacterial pathogens promote enhanced inflammation and disease burden that exacerbate morbidity and mortality. We demonstrate that direct interactions between IAV and encapsulated bacteria commonly found in the respiratory tract promote environmental stability and infectivity of IAV. Antibiotic-mediated depletion of the respiratory bacterial flora abrogated IAV transmission in ferret models, indicating that these virus-bacterium interactions are operative for airborne transmission of IAV. Restoring IAV airborne transmission in antibiotic-treated ferrets by coinfection w

SUBMITTER: Rowe HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7470989 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature