Trends in Microbiology
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 1995, Pages 110-114
Journal home page for Trends in Microbiology

Opinion
Viral potentiation of bacterial superinfection of the respiratory tract

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0966-842X(00)88892-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Virus infections of the respiratory tract predispose it to bacterial superinfections. Epidemiological studies, clinical evidence of viral-bacterial co-infection and animal models of such interactions suggest a time course of events and several mechanisms by which viral potentiation may occur. It appears that structural and functional disruption of the respiratory mucosal epithelium is a major contributor to the synergistic effects of superinfection.

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