Global surge of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and its interactions with microbiome to disease severity

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a significant virus of the lungs that causes diversified symptoms such as mild colds to severe pneumonia in people of all ages, especially in children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed individuals. The review highlights the global escalation of hMPV and explores how the human microbiome may shape the susceptibility of infections, immune responses and disease severity. The virus can form inclusion bodies inside the host cells and increase hMPV virulence to induce severe viral infection. hMPV also exploits immune-evasion strategy that weaken the host-body's defenses. Disturbances of gut-lung-microbiota can weaken the host immunity and worsen the disease severity. Nevertheless, intestinal microbes may promote the lung health through the compounds e.g., short-chain fatty acids. Although no particular treatment exists, there is an increasing concern in microbiome-based therapeutic approaches and personalized medicine. Understanding the microbiome interaction to hMPV may develop strategies to predict, prevent, and manage the hMPV infections.