Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
Inhalation Anthrax01:25

Inhalation Anthrax

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium. It primarily affects herbivorous animals but can be transmitted to humans through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation of spores.Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, typically results from direct contact with bacterial spores through skin abrasions and is generally less severe. Gastrointestinal anthrax results from eating undercooked or contaminated meat. It affects the mouth, throat, or...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The natural human adaptive IgG-specific immune response is skewed towards non-protective tail domains of DNABII proteins.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

Characterization of a conserved outer-membrane protein in non-typeable <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> with an unidentified impact on phenotype.

Microbiology spectrum·2026
Same author

Whose duty is it to advise that some healthcare professionals will not help you or refer you?

Journal of medical ethics·2026
Same author

In and Out of the Loop: Responsibility for Harms After Service Member Enhancement.

AJOB neuroscience·2026
Same author

Grounding Responsibility to Parties Who Suffer Harm Following Biomodifications to Enhance Military Function.

AJOB neuroscience·2026
Same author

Left Behind: The Clinical Implications of Excluding Students and Residents from Professional Obligations.

The American journal of bioethics : AJOB·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Moraxella catarrhalis, a human respiratory tract pathogen.

Timothy F Murphy1, G Iyer Parameswaran

  • 1Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, USA. murphyt@buffalo.edu

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|June 2, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Moraxella catarrhalis is a common cause of ear infections in children and COPD exacerbations in adults. Research is advancing understanding of its pathogenesis and developing vaccines to prevent these infections.

More Related Videos

Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
15:43

Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice

Published on: March 17, 2014

High-throughput Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Animal Specimens by Nanoscale PCR
11:00

High-throughput Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Animal Specimens by Nanoscale PCR

Published on: November 28, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
15:43

Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice

Published on: March 17, 2014

High-throughput Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Animal Specimens by Nanoscale PCR
11:00

High-throughput Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Animal Specimens by Nanoscale PCR

Published on: November 28, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Moraxella catarrhalis is a human-specific pathogen frequently causing otitis media in children.
  • It is also a significant cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations in adults.
  • This bacterium can be mistaken for commensal Neisseria species in respiratory samples.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the role of Moraxella catarrhalis in human diseases.
  • To highlight recent advancements in understanding its pathogenesis.
  • To discuss the progress in vaccine development against M. catarrhalis infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of M. catarrhalis epidemiology and pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.
  • Overview of ongoing vaccine research and development.

Main Results:

  • M. catarrhalis causes 15-20% of acute otitis media and millions of COPD exacerbations annually.
  • High upper respiratory tract colonization rates in children decrease with age.
  • Most strains are beta-lactamase positive, conferring ampicillin resistance but remaining susceptible to other oral antibiotics.

Conclusions:

  • Moraxella catarrhalis remains a critical pathogen in pediatric and adult respiratory infections.
  • Understanding pathogenesis is key to developing effective prevention strategies.
  • Vaccine development holds promise for reducing the burden of M. catarrhalis-related diseases.