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Updated: Oct 19, 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
Upper respiratory tract bacterial-immune interactions during respiratory syncytial virus infection in infancy
Christian Rosas-Salazar1, Zheng-Zheng Tang2, Meghan H Shilts3
1Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Background:
The risk factors determining short- and long-term morbidity following acute respiratory infection (ARI) due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infancy remain poorly understood.
Objectives:
Our aim was to examine the associations of the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome during RSV ARI in infancy with the acute local immune response and short- and long-term clinical outcomes.
Methods:
We characterized the URT microbiome by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and assessed the acute local immune response by measuring 53 immune mediators with high-throughput immunoassays in 357 RSV-infected infants. Our short- and long-term clinical outcomes included several markers of disease severity and the number of wheezing episodes in the fourth year of life, respectively.
Results:
We found several specific URT bacterial-immune mediator associations. In addition, the Shannon ⍺-diversity index of the URT microbiome was associated with a higher respiratory severity score (β =.50 [95% CI = 0.13-0.86]), greater odds of a lower ARI (odds ratio = 1.63 [95% CI = 1.10-2.43]), and higher number of wheezing episodes in the fourth year of life (β = 0.89 [95% CI = 0.37-1.40]). The Jaccard β-diversity index of the URT microbiome differed by level of care required (P = .04). Furthermore, we found an interaction between the Shannon ⍺-diversity index of the URT microbiome and the first principal component of the acute local immune response on the respiratory severity score (P = .048).
Conclusions:
The URT microbiome during RSV ARI in infancy is associated with the acute local immune response, disease severity, and number of wheezing episodes in the fourth year of life. Our results also suggest complex URT bacterial-immune interactions that can affect the severity of the RSV ARI.
Insights
The upper respiratory tract microbiome in infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) acute respiratory infection (ARI) impacts immune response and long-term outcomes. Infant URT microbiome diversity is linked to disease severity and later wheezing episodes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Risk factors for short- and long-term morbidity after infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) acute respiratory infection (ARI) are not well understood.
- The upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome's role in infant RSV ARI outcomes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine associations between the infant URT microbiome during RSV ARI, the acute local immune response, and clinical outcomes.
- To identify specific bacterial-immune mediator interactions influencing RSV ARI severity.
Main Methods:
- Characterized the URT microbiome using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing in 357 infants with RSV ARI.
- Assessed the acute local immune response by measuring 53 immune mediators.
- Evaluated short-term disease severity and long-term wheezing episodes in the fourth year of life.
Main Results:
- Specific URT bacterial-immune mediator associations were identified.
- URT microbiome diversity (Shannon ⍺-diversity) correlated with increased respiratory severity, lower ARI, and more wheezing episodes.
- Microbiome composition (Jaccard β-diversity) differed based on the level of care required, and interactions between microbiome diversity and immune response affected severity.
Conclusions:
- The infant URT microbiome during RSV ARI is associated with acute immune responses, disease severity, and long-term wheezing.
- Complex interactions between URT bacteria and the immune system influence the clinical course of RSV ARI in infants.
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