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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness
12:21

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

Published on: September 28, 2022

Influenza A virus facilitates Streptococcus pneumoniae transmission and disease

Dimitri A Diavatopoulos1, Kirsty R Short, John T Price

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. d.diavatopoulos@cukz.umcn.nl

FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
|January 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Influenza A virus (IAV) is essential for the transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) between mice. This study establishes a novel animal model to investigate this pneumococcal-influenza synergism and transmission dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae causes millions of deaths annually, leading to pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis.
  • S. pneumoniae colonizes the nasopharynx, especially in children, and influenza A virus (IAV) infection is linked to pneumococcal disease and transmission.
  • A lack of animal models has hindered the study of IAV's role in pneumococcal spread.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the synergistic relationship between pneumococcal and influenza infections.
  • To determine the role of IAV in the transmission of S. pneumoniae using a novel infant mouse model.

Main Methods:

  • Infant mice were colonized with S. pneumoniae and then infected with IAV.
  • In vivo imaging was used to track pneumococcal transmission between colonized (index) and naive (contact) mice.
  • IAV-neutralizing antibodies were employed to assess the necessity of IAV replication in transmission.

Main Results:

  • IAV infection led to increased pneumococcal colonization and disease severity in mice.
  • IAV was critical for the transmission of S. pneumoniae from index to contact mice.
  • Inhibiting IAV replication in either index or contact mice prevented pneumococcal transmission.

Conclusions:

  • IAV plays a crucial role in facilitating the transmission of S. pneumoniae.
  • This research provides new insights into pneumococcal-influenza synergism.
  • IAV may have a previously unrecognized role in the spread of pneumococcal infections.

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