title: Respiratory infections and asthma.
abstract: Respiratory tract infections caused by both viruses and/or atypical bacteria are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. In particular, several viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus and influenza/parainfluenza viruses may favour the expression of the asthmatic phenotype, being also implicated in the induction of disease exacerbations. Within this pathological context, a significant role can also be played by airway bacterial colonizations and infections due to Chlamydiae and Mycoplasms. All these microbial agents probably interfere with complex immunological pathways, thus contributing to induce and exacerbate asthma in genetically predisposed individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelaia
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatrella
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallelli
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Renda
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzola
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.forename: Serafino A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Marsico
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000821:virology