Lung microbiota dysbiosis exacerbates influenza virus infection.
4 affiliations
- 1College of Life Science and Agriculture Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, 161006, China.
- 2State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China. [email protected].
- 3Postdoctoral Research Workstation, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China. [email protected].
- 4State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Previous studies have shown that microbiota in the respiratory tract play a significant role in shaping host immunity and reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections. Influenza, an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza virus (IAV), necessitates to have an in-depth understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of viral infection and to utilize these mechanisms to prevent and control influenza infection.Results
In this study, we established models of different disease severity levels in mice infected with IAV, the relationships between changes in pulmonary microbiota and host interactions during IAV infection were analyzed. We found that these relationships were characterized by the enrichment of opportunistic pathogenic taxonomic groups and were related to disease severity. Multi-omics analysis combined with animal experiments clarified that colonization of Bacillus cereus in the lungs aggravates IAV infection through xanthosine, thereby downregulating the expression of nt5e and reducing the viral phagocytic ability of alveolar macrophages. Importantly, targeted removal of B. cereus by bacteriophages can alleviate IAV infection and the resulting pulmonary lesions.Conclusions
Highlighting provides a novel approach for preventing and controlling the progression of IAV infection by targeting the lung microbiota.In brief
Lung dysbiosis is associated with severe influenza virus (IAV) infection. Bacillus cereus aggravates IAV infection via the xanthosine-nt5e axis in SPF mice, which can be rescued by bacteriophage targeting. These findings highlight the potential of modulating the lung microbiota as a strategy for prevention and controlling IAV infection.
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BibTeX
@article{yin2026lung,
title = {{Lung microbiota dysbiosis exacerbates influenza virus infection.}},
author = {Hai Chang Yin and Xin Yu Zhang and Song Liu and Xinjie Jiang and Tian Fei Yu and He Zhang and Di Liu and Chang You Xia},
journal = {Microbiome},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1186/s40168-026-02450-5},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42850654},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lung microbiota dysbiosis exacerbates influenza virus infection.
AU - Hai Chang Yin
AU - Xin Yu Zhang
AU - Song Liu
AU - Xinjie Jiang
AU - Tian Fei Yu
AU - He Zhang
AU - Di Liu
AU - Chang You Xia
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/15
JO - Microbiome
DO - 10.1186/s40168-026-02450-5
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42850654
AB - Background Previous studies have shown that microbiota in the respiratory tract play a significant role in shaping host immunity and reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections. Influenza, an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza virus (IAV), necessitates to have an in-depth understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of viral infection and to utilize these mechanisms to prevent and control influenza infection.Results In this study, we established models of different disease severity levels in mice infected with IAV, the relationships between changes in pulmonary microbiota and host interactions during IAV infection were analyzed. We found that these relationships were characterized by the enrichment of opportunistic pathogenic taxonomic groups and were related to disease severity. Multi-omics analysis combined with animal experiments clarified that colonization of Bacillus cereus in the lungs aggravates IAV infection through xanthosine, thereby downregulating the expression of nt5e and reducing the viral phagocytic ability of alveolar macrophages. Importantly, targeted removal of B. cereus by bacteriophages can alleviate IAV infection and the resulting pulmonary lesions.Conclusions Highlighting provides a novel approach for preventing and controlling the progression of IAV infection by targeting the lung microbiota.In brief Lung dysbiosis is associated with severe influenza virus (IAV) infection. Bacillus cereus aggravates IAV infection via the xanthosine-nt5e axis in SPF mice, which can be rescued by bacteriophage targeting. These findings highlight the potential of modulating the lung microbiota as a strategy for prevention and controlling IAV infection.
SN - 2049-2618
ER -