Deadly interactions: Synergistic manipulations of concurrent pathogen infections potentially enabling future
1USPTO, San Jose, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Certain mono-infections of influenza viruses and novel coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are significant threats to human health. Concurrent infections by influenza viruses and coronaviruses increases their danger. Influenza viruses have eight manipulations capable of assisting SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, and several of these manipulations, which are not specific to viruses, can also directly or indirectly boost dangerous secondary bacterial pneumonias. The influenza virus manipulations include: inhibiting transcription factors and cytokine expression; impairing defensive protein expression; increasing RNA viral replication; inhibiting defenses by manipulating cellular sensors and signaling pathways; inhibiting defenses by secreting exosomes; stimulating cholesterol production to increase synthesized virion infectivities; increasing cellular autophagy to assist viral replication; and stimulating glucocorticoid synthesis to suppress innate and adaptive immune defenses by inhibiting cytokine, chemokine, and adhesion molecule production. Teaser: Rapidly spreading multidrug-resistant respiratory bacteria, combined with influenza virus's far-reaching cellular defense manipulations benefiting evolving SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses and/or respiratory bacteria, can enable more severe pandemics or co-pandemics.
Insights
Influenza viruses and coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV-2, pose significant health threats. Influenza virus manipulations can worsen these infections and promote dangerous bacterial pneumonias, increasing pandemic risks.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Influenza viruses and novel coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, are major global health concerns.
- Concurrent infections with these viruses amplify disease severity and mortality risks.
- Influenza virus possesses multiple mechanisms that can enhance coronavirus and bacterial pathogen virulence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms by which influenza viruses augment the pathogenicity of coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2).
- To investigate how influenza virus-mediated cellular manipulations can predispose individuals to secondary bacterial pneumonias.
- To highlight the potential for co-infections to drive more severe pandemics.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on viral co-infections and host-pathogen interactions.
- Analysis of known influenza virus replication and immune evasion strategies.
- Examination of cellular pathways targeted by influenza viruses relevant to coronavirus and bacterial infections.
Main Results:
- Influenza viruses employ eight key strategies to enhance viral replication and immune suppression.
- These strategies include inhibiting host transcription factors, cytokine production, and cellular defenses.
- Specific manipulations facilitate RNA viral replication, exosome secretion, cholesterol synthesis, autophagy, and glucocorticoid production, all benefiting viral or bacterial co-pathogens.
Conclusions:
- Influenza virus's multifaceted cellular manipulations create a permissive environment for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses.
- These viral strategies also exacerbate the risk and severity of secondary bacterial pneumonias.
- The combination of viral co-infections and antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat for future severe pandemics.
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