Protection Against Post-Influenza Bacterial Superinfection Offered By Interleukin-22

Researchers from the Pasteur Institute, Lille, France have shown in a mouse model that interleukin-22 protects against bacterial superinfections that can arise following influenza. Their research is published in the June 2013 issue of the Journal of Virology. Influenza A viral infection can lead to primary pneumonia and, later on, to serious complications including secondary bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. Post-influenza bacterial superinfections that occur during seasonal epidemics and pandemics are of great concern to human health and impose a considerable socio-economic burden...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Flu / Cold / SARS Source Type: news