Acute respiratory infection (ARI) remains a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epidemiologic evidence and experience with three vaccines targeting ARIs point to the acquisition of colonization as the key event in eventual progression to disease, transmission and prevention. This application focuses on understanding the first event in host-pathogen interaction, establishment of colonization on the mucosal surface of the upper respiratory tract (URT). Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading cause of ARI particularly in the setting of viral co- infection, will be used to examine the microbial and host factors contributing to acquisition. Preliminary data show that prior to the establishment of a stable bacterial population along the epithelial surface pneumococci are found entrapped in lumenal mucus. We will use a mouse model of carriage to examine pneumococcal interaction with mucus and how this earliest event dictates success in colonization (Aim#1) and is affected by inflammation (Aim#2) and immunity (Aim#3). Preliminary data support a mechanism to be tested in Aim#1 whereby the ability of the pneumococcus to manipulate sugars allows it to breakdown and utilize mucopolysaccharides for its proliferation, adaptation and to escape mucus entrapment. We propose that these events are required for the development of colonization of sufficient density and duration to allow for transmission. Additional preliminary data suggest that URT inflammation promotes rather than inhibits pneumococcal colonization. The role of pneumococcal-induced inflammation and co- infection with influenza A on mucus production and their role in enhancing early events in colonization will be examined in Aim#2.
In Aim#3 we will examine the contribution of IgG from the serum pool in blocking acquisition and transmission, and determine the mechanism for antibody-mediated inhibition of early events in colonization. Thus, this application addresses basic processes of broad significance to pathogenesis- i) acquisition of a microbe by a host, ii) proliferation in that host, iii) transmisson to a new host, iv) the effect of inflammation in the microbe's niche, and v) the modulation of these parameters in an immune host.

Public Health Relevance

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading human pathogen that must first colonize the mucosal surface of the nasopharynx. Blocking this initial step is the key t prevention of pneumococcal disease in the population. We will use a mouse model to investigate how initial interaction with the host dictates success in colonization (Aim#1) and is affected by inflammation (Aim#2) and immunity (Aim#3).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01AI105168-03
Application #
9032137
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IDM-V (02))
Program Officer
Lu, Kristina
Project Start
2015-04-01
Project End
2018-11-30
Budget Start
2015-04-01
Budget End
2015-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$399,130
Indirect Cost
$163,655
Name
New York University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
121911077
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
Hamaguchi, Shigeto; Zafar, M Ammar; Cammer, Michael et al. (2018) Capsule prolongs survival of Streptococcus pneumoniae during starvation. Infect Immun :
Weiser, Jeffrey N; Ferreira, Daniela M; Paton, James C (2018) Streptococcus pneumoniae: transmission, colonization and invasion. Nat Rev Microbiol 16:355-367
Ortigoza, Mila Brum; Blaser, Simone B; Zafar, M Ammar et al. (2018) An Infant Mouse Model of Influenza Virus Transmission Demonstrates the Role of Virus-Specific Shedding, Humoral Immunity, and Sialidase Expression by Colonizing Streptococcus pneumoniae. MBio 9:
Mitsi, E; Roche, A M; Reiné, J et al. (2017) Agglutination by anti-capsular polysaccharide antibody is associated with protection against experimental human pneumococcal carriage. Mucosal Immunol 10:385-394
Jochems, Simon P; Weiser, Jeffrey N; Malley, Richard et al. (2017) The immunological mechanisms that control pneumococcal carriage. PLoS Pathog 13:e1006665
Zafar, M Ammar; Wang, Yang; Hamaguchi, Shigeto et al. (2017) Host-to-Host Transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Driven by Its Inflammatory Toxin, Pneumolysin. Cell Host Microbe 21:73-83
Zafar, M Ammar; Hamaguchi, Shigeto; Zangari, Tonia et al. (2017) Capsule Type and Amount Affect Shedding and Transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae. MBio 8:
Zangari, Tonia; Wang, Yang; Weiser, Jeffrey N (2017) Streptococcus pneumoniae Transmission Is Blocked by Type-Specific Immunity in an Infant Mouse Model. MBio 8:
Wang, Y; Jiang, B; Guo, Y et al. (2017) Cross-protective mucosal immunity mediated by memory Th17 cells against Streptococcus pneumoniae lung infection. Mucosal Immunol 10:250-259
Zafar, M Ammar; Kono, Masamitsu; Wang, Yang et al. (2016) Infant Mouse Model for the Study of Shedding and Transmission during Streptococcus pneumoniae Monoinfection. Infect Immun 84:2714-22

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