Influenza A (H1N1) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Coinfection in a Newborn Child: A Case Report

The long-term control strategy of SARS-CoV-2 and other major respiratory viruses needs to include antivirals to treat acute infections, in addition to the judicious use of effective vaccines. Whilst COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out for mass vaccination, the modest number of antivirals in use or development for any disease bears testament to the challenges of antiviral development. We recently showed that non-cytotoxic levels of thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ ATPase pump, induces a potent host innate immune antiviral response that blocks influenza A virus replication. Here we show that TG is also highly effective in blocking the replication of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), common cold coronavirus OC43, SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus in immortalized or primary human cells. TG’s antiviral performance was significantly better than remdesivir and ribavirin in their respective inhibition of OC43 and RSV. Notably, TG was just as inhibitory to coronaviruses (OC43 and SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses (USSR H1N1 and pdm 2009 H1N1) in separate infections as in co-infections. Post-infection oral gavage of acid-stable TG protected mice against a lethal influenza virus challenge. Together with its ability to inhibit the different viruses before or during active infection, and with an antiviral duration of at least 48 h post-TG exposure, we propose that TG (or its derivatives) is a promising broad-spectrum inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2, OC43, RSV and influenza virus.

Download Full-text

Bacterial and Viral Coinfections with the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9061293 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1293

Author(s):

Gaspar A. Pacheco ◽

Nicolás M. S. Gálvez ◽

Jorge A. Soto ◽

Catalina A. Andrade ◽

Alexis M. Kalergis

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Respiratory Pathogens ◽

Parainfluenza Viruses ◽

Starting Point ◽

The Social ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Polymicrobial Infections

The human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is one of the leading causes of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children under five years old. Notably, hRSV infections can give way to pneumonia and predispose to other respiratory complications later in life, such as asthma. Even though the social and economic burden associated with hRSV infections is tremendous, there are no approved vaccines to date to prevent the disease caused by this pathogen. Recently, coinfections and superinfections have turned into an active field of study, and interactions between many viral and bacterial pathogens have been studied. hRSV is not an exception since polymicrobial infections involving this virus are common, especially when illness has evolved into pneumonia. Here, we review the epidemiology and recent findings regarding the main polymicrobial infections involving hRSV and several prevalent bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, human rhinoviruses, influenza A virus, human metapneumovirus, and human parainfluenza viruses. As reports of most polymicrobial infections involving hRSV lack a molecular basis explaining the interaction between hRSV and these pathogens, we believe this review article can serve as a starting point to interesting and very much needed research in this area.

Download Full-text

Protective Efficacy and Immunogenicity of a Combinatory DNA Vaccine against Influenza A Virus and the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0072217 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. e72217 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Viktoria Stab ◽

Sandra Nitsche ◽

Thomas Niezold ◽

Michael Storcksdieck genannt Bonsmann ◽

Andrea Wiechers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Dna Vaccine ◽

Influenza A ◽

Protective Efficacy ◽

Syncytial Virus

Download Full-text

Circulation of Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brescia, Italy: A Retrospective Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189525 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9525

Author(s):

Maria Antonia De Francesco ◽

Caterina Pollara ◽

Franco Gargiulo ◽

Mauro Giacomelli ◽

Arnaldo Caruso

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Respiratory Viruses ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Nucleic Acid Detection ◽

Respiratory Pathogens ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Human Coronaviruses

Different preventive public health measures were adopted globally to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as hand hygiene and the use of masks, travel restrictions, social distance actions such as the closure of schools and workplaces, case and contact tracing, quarantine and lockdown. These measures, in particular physical distancing and the use of masks, might have contributed to containing the spread of other respiratory viruses that occurs principally by contact and droplet routes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of different respiratory viruses (influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3 and 4, rhinovirus, adenovirus, metapneumovirus and human coronaviruses) after one year of the pandemic. Furthermore, another aim was to evaluate the possible impact of these non-pharmaceutical measures on the circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses. This single center study was conducted between January 2017–February 2020 (pre-pandemic period) and March 2020–May 2021 (pandemic period). All adults >18 years with respiratory symptoms and tested for respiratory pathogens were included in the study. Nucleic acid detection of all respiratory viruses was performed by multiplex real time PCR. Our results show that the test positivity for influenza A and B, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and human coronaviruses decreased with statistical significance during the pandemic. Contrary to this, for adenovirus the decrease was not statistically significant. Conversely, a statistically significant increase was detected for rhinovirus. Coinfections between different respiratory viruses were observed during the pre-pandemic period, while the only coinfection detected during pandemic was between SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus. To understand how the preventive strategies against SARS-CoV-2 might alter the transmission dynamics and epidemic patterns of respiratory viruses is fundamental to guide future preventive recommendations.

Download Full-text

Nursing of an Infant Diagnosed with Neonatal Intrahepatic Cholestasis Caused by Citrin Deficiency (NICCD) with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection: A Case Report

Clinical Medicine Research ◽

10.11648/j.cmr.20211001.16 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 31

Author(s):

Lingli Cai ◽

Yuanzong Song ◽

Ning Zhang ◽

Meixue Chen ◽

Weiju Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Intrahepatic Cholestasis ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Citrin Deficiency

Download Full-text

Exacerbation of Influenza A Virus Disease Severity by Respiratory Syncytial Virus Co-Infection in a Mouse Model

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13081630 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1630 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Junu A. George ◽

Shaikha H. AlShamsi ◽

Maryam H. Alhammadi ◽

Ahmed R. Alsuwaidi

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Viral Loads ◽

Syncytial Virus

Influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are leading causes of childhood infections. RSV and influenza are competitive in vitro. In this study, the in vivo effects of RSV and IAV co-infection were investigated. Mice were intranasally inoculated with RSV, with IAV, or with both viruses (RSV+IAV and IAV+RSV) administered sequentially, 24 h apart. On days 3 and 7 post-infection, lung tissues were processed for viral loads and immune cell populations. Lung functions were also evaluated. Mortality was observed only in the IAV+RSV group (50% of mice did not survive beyond 7 days). On day 3, the viral loads in single-infected and co-infected mice were not significantly different. However, on day 7, the IAV titer was much higher in the IAV+RSV group, and the RSV viral load was reduced. CD4 T cells were reduced in all groups on day 7 except in single-infected mice. CD8 T cells were higher in all experimental groups except the RSV-alone group. Increased airway resistance and reduced thoracic compliance were demonstrated in both co-infected groups. This model indicates that, among all the infection types we studied, infection with IAV followed by RSV is associated with the highest IAV viral loads and the most morbidity and mortality.

Download Full-text