title: Influenza virus and proteolytic bacteria co-infection in respiratory tract from individuals presenting respiratory manifestations.
abstract: A role for proteolytic bacteria in the exacerbation of influenza virus has been shown in natural hosts such as pigs and humans. Four hundred seven samples were collected from the respiratory tract of individuals presenting clinical manifestations, during influenza season (2003-2005) in São Paulo City. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of determined bacteria co-infecting virus in human respiratory tract. Tests, such as bacteriological, immunofluorescence (IF), RT/PCR and hemagglutination (HA) were used for bacterial and viral investigation. Thirty seven (9.09%) positive for influenza virus were screened by IF. The RT/PCR confirmed the presence of influenza virus in these samples. Bacterial and agar casein tests demonstrated that 18 (48.64%) individuals were infected with proteolytic bacteria such as Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Among these samples, 13 (35.13%) were co-infected with influenza A virus. Influenza type B, co-infecting bacteria were found in five (13.51%) samples. In vitro the S. aureus protease increased the influenza HA titer after contact for 30 min at 25 masculineC. Results revealed the occurrence of co-infection with proteolytic bacteria and influenza in the evaluated individuals. This finding corroborates that virus versus bacteria synergism could be able to potentiate respiratory infection, increasing damage to hosts.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dalva Assunção Portari
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Rosely C Barbosa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Rita Maria Zucatelli
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bellei
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: Antonia M O
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: José Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancini Filho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral