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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
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
Altered gut microbiota in infants is associated with respiratory syncytial virus disease severity
Jeffrey N Harding1,2, David Siefker1,2, Luan Vu1,2
1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
Insights
Infant gut bacteria composition differs in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Specific microbes are linked to severe RSV disease, offering potential for early identification and new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of infant respiratory infections.
- Lack of vaccines and therapies stems from poor understanding of RSV pathogenesis.
- Gut microbiota composition is increasingly implicated in RSV disease severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the gut microbial profile associated with severe RSV disease in infants.
- To explore potential biomarkers for identifying at-risk infants.
- To inform the development of microbial-based immunotherapies against RSV.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 95 infants (37 healthy, 58 with RSV) during the 2014-2016 RSV season.
- Collected stool samples within 72 hours of admission for gut microbiota analysis.
- Utilized 16S rRNA sequencing to evaluate fecal DNA and microbial composition.
Main Results:
- RSV patients (moderate and severe) showed enrichment in specific bacteria (S24_7, Clostridiales, Odoribacteraceae, Lactobacillaceae, Actinomyces) compared to controls.
- Severe RSV cases exhibited slightly lower gut microbial alpha diversity (richness and evenness).
- Significant differences in beta diversity (overall microbial composition) were observed between RSV groups and controls, distinguishing all three groups.
Conclusions:
- A distinct gut microbial signature is associated with RSV infection and severe disease.
- Gut microbiota alterations may play a role in RSV pathogenesis or severity.
- Further research is needed to establish causality between gut microbiota and severe RSV disease.
Background:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the number one cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants. There are still no vaccines or specific antiviral therapies against RSV, mainly due to the inadequate understanding of RSV pathogenesis. Recent data suggest a role for gut microbiota community structure in determining RSV disease severity. Our objective was to determine the gut microbial profile associated with severe RSV patients, which could be used to help identify at-risk patients and develop therapeutically protective microbial assemblages that may stimulate immuno-protection.
Results:
We enrolled 95 infants from Le Bonheur during the 2014 to 2016 RSV season. Of these, 37 were well-babies and 58 were hospitalized with RSV. Of the RSV infected babies, 53 remained in the pediatric ward (moderate) and 5 were moved to the pediatric intensive care unit at a later date (severe). Stool samples were collected within 72 h of admission; and the composition of gut microbiota was evaluated via 16S sequencing of fecal DNA. There was a significant enrichment in S24_7, Clostridiales, Odoribacteraceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Actinomyces in RSV (moderate and severe) vs. controls. Patients with severe RSV disease had slightly lower alpha diversity (richness and evenness of the bacterial community) of the gut microbiota compared to patients with moderate RSV and healthy controls. Beta diversity (overall microbial composition) was significantly different between all RSV patients (moderate and severe) compared to controls and had significant microbial composition separating all three groups (control, moderate RSV, and severe RSV).
Conclusions:
Collectively, these data demonstrate that a unique gut microbial profile is associated with RSV disease and with severe RSV disease with admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. More mechanistic experiments are needed to determine whether the differences observed in gut microbiota are the cause or consequences of severe RSV disease.
