Pre-existing human rhinovirus infection modulates host response to secondary bacterial infections

Background Secondary bacterial infections following viral infections of the airways are well documented and are associated with increased severity of respiratory disease compared to virus or bacterial infections alone. Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections are the most common causes of exacerbations in individuals with chronic airways diseases such as asthma and COPD. Moreover, bacterial colonization is commonly found in the airways of patients experiencing exacerbations of these chronic airways diseases and linked to increased severity and duration of these exacerbations. The mechanisms underlying the increased prevalence of secondary bacterial infections and the association with more severe outcomes following viral infections is not known. It has been suggested that viral infection of the airways cause dysregulation of innate host defense mechanisms, such as, impaired antimicrobial peptide expression of the airways. Antimicrobial peptides are key components of the innate immune response after infection and are important in efficient clearance of microbial colonization to prevent infection. We sought to determine whether HRV modulates the innate host defense response to secondary bacterial infections of the airways.