Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
09:01

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Published on: December 10, 2013

Associations between pathogens in the upper respiratory tract of young children: interplay between viruses and

Menno R van den Bergh1, Giske Biesbroek, John W A Rossen

  • 1Department of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Plos One
|October 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pathogenic bacteria and respiratory viruses commonly colonize healthy children's upper airways. These findings reveal complex interactions between bacteria and viruses, impacting disease interpretation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Microbiome research
  • Respiratory health

Background:

  • Upper respiratory tracts of healthy children harbor high rates of potentially pathogenic bacteria and respiratory viruses.
  • Understanding these co-colonizations in healthy individuals is crucial for interpreting disease-related findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and associations between common respiratory viruses and bacteria in healthy children.
  • To identify patterns of microbial co-occurrence in the nasopharynx.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 986 nasopharyngeal samples from 433 healthy children (6-24 months old).
  • Detection of 20 respiratory viruses via real-time PCR.
  • Identification of bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus) using conventional culture.
  • Multivariate logistic regression and partial correlation analyses were employed.

Main Results:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae showed positive associations with Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, human rhinoviruses, and enteroviruses, but negative with Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Haemophilus influenzae was associated with human rhinoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses.
  • Moraxella catarrhalis was linked to coronaviruses and adenoviruses, and negatively with Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Staphylococcus aureus had a strong positive association with influenza viruses.
  • Significant viral-viral associations were observed, including between human rhinoviruses and enteroviruses.

Conclusions:

  • High prevalence rates of viruses and bacteria were found in healthy children.
  • Distinct bacterial-bacterial, viral-bacterial, and viral-viral associations were identified in the upper respiratory tract.
  • These complex microbial dynamics necessitate careful consideration when linking microbial presence to specific respiratory diseases.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness12:21

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

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria11:32

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

Published on: February 23, 2014

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...
Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Human Virome01:26

Human Virome

The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...