Streptococcus pneumoniae Otitis Media Pathogenesis and How It Informs Our Understanding of Vaccine Strategies

This study aimed to review the literature regarding the mechanisms of transition from asymptomatic colonization to induction of otitis media and how the insight into the pathogenesis of otitis media has the potential to help design future otitis media-directed vaccines.Recent FindingsRespiratory viruses have long been shown to predispose individuals to bacterial respiratory infections, such as otitis media. Recent information suggests thatStreptococcus pneumoniae, which colonize the nasopharynx asymptomatically, can sense potentially “threatening” changes in the nasopharyngeal environment caused by virus infection by upregulating specific sets of genes involved in biofilm release, dissemination from the nasopharynx to other sites, and protection against the host immune system. Furthermore, an understanding of the transcripti onal and proteomic changes occurring in bacteria during transition to infection has led to identification of novel vaccine targets that are disease-specific and will not affect asymptomatic colonization. This approach will avoid major changes in the delicate balance of microorganisms in the respirat ory tract microbiome due to elimination ofS. pneumoniae.SummaryOur recent findings are reviewed in the context of the current literature on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of otitis media. We also discuss how other otopathogens, such asHaemophilus influenzae andMoraxella catarrhalis, as well as the normal respiratory microbiome, can modulate the ability ...
Source: Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research