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Review
. 2004 Jul;137(1):8-11.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02526.x.

Ménage à trois of bacterial and viral pulmonary pathogens delivers coup de grace to the lung

T Hussell, A Williams
Review

Ménage à trois of bacterial and viral pulmonary pathogens delivers coup de grace to the lung

T Hussell et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 2004 Jul.
No abstract available

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mechanisms responsible for exacerbation of bacterial infection by influenza virus. (a) Respiratory bacteria replicate in the extracellular spaces and/or intracellularly. These are usually prevented from reaching submucosal tissues by the impervious respiratory epithelium. Bacteria are cleared by antibody and/or by intracellular killing. (b) Viral replication often results in damage or death of the infected cell. In the case of the respiratory epithelium this exposes areas to which bacteria can bind that would otherwise be masked. Bacterial adhesion molecules may also be up regulated by viral infection. Increased adherence and destruction of the epithelial barrier results in bacterial colonization of submucosal tissues. (c) The immune response to most viral infections is dominated by cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and CD4 T cells secreting IFN-g and TNF. These may not be appropriate for bacterial clearance. The immune response induced by the virus may even inhibit that to the bacteria. (d) Some viral infections cause apoptosis of macrophages and neutrophils both of which are vital for bacterial clearance. (e) Regardless of the mechanism of uncontrolled bacterial growth the outcome of two or more infections is excessive inflammation. This occludes the lung leading to disability and in extreme circumstances, death.
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