Pathogenic mechanisms of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections by influenza virus ‐GAS superinfection

ABSTRACT Group A Streptococcus (GAS) are pathogenic bacteria of the genus Streptococcus, and cause severe invasive GAS infections that comprise a wide range of diverse diseases, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure, toxic shock‐like syndrome (TSLS), sepsis, cellulitis, and necrotizing fasciitis. The essential virulence, infected host, and external environmental factors required for invasive GAS infections still have not known. We demonstrated that superinfection with influenza virus and GAS induced invasive GAS infections in a mouse model, and then several investigators reported clinical cases of invasive GAS infections secondary to influenza virus infection in Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, and others. However, the pathogenic mechanisms affecting the influenza virus‐GAS superinfection still need to be fully understood. The present review describes the current knowledge on invasive GAS infections by the superinfection, dividing the topics into the bacteriological, virological, and immunological mechanisms impacting invasion upon superinfection on underlying influenza virus infection by GAS and other bacteria (i.e., Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus). Future prospects are also discussed.
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research