The role of influenza A virus in pneumococcal disease and transmission

Abstract

This thesis examines the interactions between influenza A virus and the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. This thesis demonstrates that influenza virus plays an essential role in the transmission of S. pneumoniae by increasing bacterial shedding and inducing nasopharyngeal inflammation. Influenza virus also played an essential role in the development of secondary bacterial otitis media, due to the ability of H3 viruses to induce a pro-inflammatory response in the middle ear. Finally, it is shown that bacterial ligands may also affect the ability of influenza virus to infect human monocyte derived macrophages.