A lung pathobiont story: Thinking outside the Koch's postulate box

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Neisseria spp. are typically commensal bacteria found in the human respiratory tract.
• Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition characterized by irreversible airway dilation.
• Classical infectious disease models, such as Koch's postulates, may not fully explain diseases with complex microbial-host interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the pathogenic potential of Neisseria spp. in bronchiectasis.
• To discuss the evolution of understanding disease pathogenesis from simple postulates to complex microbial-host interactions.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on Neisseria spp. and bronchiectasis.
• Conceptual discussion on the limitations of Koch's postulates in modern infectious disease research.

Main Results:

• Neisseria spp. can contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis, challenging its commensal classification in this context.
• The understanding of disease etiology has shifted towards a multifactorial model involving intricate host-microbe dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Neisseria spp. represent a potential pathogen in bronchiectasis.
• Modern disease pathogenesis requires considering complex microbial-host interactions beyond traditional postulates.