Quantitative determination of ecological niches for polymicrobial colonization in OM Otitis media (OM) is a common pediatric disease usually caused by polymicrobial infection of the sterile middle ear by commensal bacteria that normally reside in the upper respiratory tract (URT). OM presents a unique and simple paradigm for studying basic mechanisms of host-microbiota interactions, where breakdown of homeostasis between a small community of commensal bacteria, nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHI), S. pneumoniae (Sp), and, M. catarrhalis (Mcat), and the host's immune system by a viral infection (such as RSV or influenza A) can lead to a diseased state. The mechanisms that underlie breakdown of the homeostasis between commensal bacteria and the host are not well understood. Multiple nonlinear interlinked processes spanning a wide range of spatial dimensions (molecular to organ level) and time scales (seconds to days) determine interactions between the main players (bacteria, viruses, immune responses) involved in OM. Therefore, it is difficult to decipher the underlying mechanisms solely through experiments. We propose to use a synergistic combination of computational tools rooted in statistical physics, non-linear population dynamics, and statistics, with wet experiments in the chinchilla URT to determine and quantify ecological niches that underlie polymicrobial infection/colonization of the URT in OM.
In specific aim 1, we will quantitatively determine ecological niches for infection of the chinchilla middle ear by NTHI, Sp, and Mcat.
In aim 2, we will determine mechanisms underlying synergy between one virus and one type of commensal bacteria in the chinchilla URT that could lead to infection of the middle ear by the bacterial species, and in the last aim, we will determine mechanisms that lead to multispecies infection of the middle ear by Mcat and NTHI upon a synergistic viral infection.

Public Health Relevance

OM is one of the most commonly diagnosed pediatric diseases. Vaccines and other therapeutic strategies are inadequate in controlling OM because the mechanisms underlying this polymicrobial infection remain poorly understood. The developed mechanistic in silico model with predictive capabilities will very likely provide strategies for therapeutic interventions and vaccine development against OM.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM103612-03
Application #
8986798
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1-GDB-2 (MC))
Program Officer
Sledjeski, Darren D
Project Start
2014-01-01
Project End
2017-12-31
Budget Start
2016-01-01
Budget End
2016-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
$296,662
Indirect Cost
$94,162
Name
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
147212963
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43205
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Das, Jayajit; Mukherjee, Sayak; Hodge, Susan E (2015) Maximum Entropy Estimation of Probability Distribution of Variables in Higher Dimensions from Lower Dimensional Data. Entropy (Basel) 17:4986-4999
Mukherjee, Sayak; Weimer, Kristin E; Seok, Sang-Cheol et al. (2014) Host-to-host variation of ecological interactions in polymicrobial infections. Phys Biol 12:016003