Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025
Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice
Published on: April 14, 2011
A neonatal piglet model reveals interactions between nasal microbiota and influenza A virus pathogenesis
Fangfeng Yuan1, Lufan Yang1, Shih-Hsuan Hsiao2
1Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.
Insights
New strategies are needed to combat influenza disease. This study reveals influenza A virus infection restructures the nasal microbiome in piglets, impacting viral infection outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Microbiome research
- Infectious disease
Background:
- Influenza A virus (IAV) poses a significant threat, especially to vulnerable populations like neonates.
- Existing vaccines and therapeutics necessitate novel strategies to combat IAV infection.
- The host microbiome's role in modulating pathogen virulence is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactions between the nasal microbiome and IAV in a neonatal piglet model.
- To understand how different hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes of IAV affect pathogenicity and microbial diversity.
- To identify microbial signatures associated with IAV infection.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal sampling of the nasal microbiome in newborn piglets before and after intranasal IAV infection.
- Utilizing recombinant IAV expressing hemagglutinins (HAs) from distinct zoonotic H1 subtypes.
- Analyzing changes in microbial community diversity and composition post-infection.
Main Results:
- IAV strains expressing different HAs exhibited unique pathogenicity patterns and altered microbial diversity.
- A consistent microbial signature was detected across piglets infected with IAV, irrespective of HA subtype.
- IAV infection led to significant restructuring of the nasal microbiome.
Conclusions:
- Influenza A virus infection is associated with substantial shifts in nasal microbiome composition.
- These microbiome alterations may play a role in determining the outcomes of viral infections in neonatal hosts.
- Findings highlight the interplay between host microbiota and viral pathogenesis in a susceptible population.
Abstract:
While vaccination and therapeutics for prevention/treatment of influenza are available, new strategies are needed to combat influenza disease in susceptible populations, particularly young children and newborns. Host associated microbiota play an important role in modulating the virulence of numerous pathogens, including the influenza A virus. In this study, we examined microbiome-influenza interactions in a neonatal piglet model system. The nasal microbiome of newborn piglets was longitudinally sampled before and after intranasal infection with recombinant viruses expressing hemagglutinins (HAs) derived from distinct zoonotic H1 subtypes. We found that viruses expressing different parental HAs manifested unique patterns of pathogenicity, and varied impacts on microbial community diversity. Despite these virus specific differences, a consistent microbial signature of viral infection was detected. Our results indicate that influenza A virus infection associates with the restructuring of nasal microbiome and such shifts in microbial diversity may contribute to outcomes of viral infection in neonatal piglets.
