Jonathan A McCullers

..This observation suggests a role for the C domain of the M1 protein in growth and virulence in a mammalian host...

..Our results differ from generally accepted influenza A virus vaccine models, and argue that strategies for control of influenza B virus should be considered separately from those for influenza A virus...

..These data suggest that beta-lactam therapy may not be optimal as a first-line treatment for community-acquired pneumonia when it follows influenza...

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..Overall, these data argue that the relationship between respiratory viral infections, acquisition of pneumococci, and development of disease in humans needs further study to be better understood...

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..Influenza vaccination is recommended for immunocompromised patients...

..Binding to α2-3-linked SAs with a sulfated sialyl-Lewis motif as well as to α2-8-linked SAs was unique for the second binding site. Neither site recognizes α2-6-linked oligosaccharides...

..The viral cytotoxin PB1-F2 contributed to the negative outcomes. These data suggest that additional study of specific bacterial virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and lung damage during coinfections is needed...

..These findings help explain both the unparalleled virulence of the 1918 strain and the high incidence of fatal pneumonia during the pandemic...

..These findings support efforts to increase influenza virus surveillance to consider viral genotypes that could be used to predict increased severity of superinfections with specific Gram-positive respiratory pathogens...

..Selective NA inhibitors may be useful clinically to interrupt this novel mechanism of synergism and to prevent excess mortality from secondary bacterial pneumonia...

..This study details separate but important roles for both IgG1 and IgG2a expression in vaccination against influenza and argues for the development of vaccine regimens that stimulate and measure expression of both antibody isotypes...

..Thus, a prepandemic vaccine strategy that involves the stockpiling of both potential antigens and proven adjuvants may represent the best approach to deal with this looming threat...

..The safety and immunogenicity of live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) has not been compared to that of the standard trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) in children with cancer...

..These data suggest that the PB1-F2 protein contributes to the virulence of pandemic strains when the PB1 gene segment is recently derived from the avian reservoir...

..Therefore, immunopathology likely caused by elevated cellular recruitment is an implicated mechanism of severe pH1N1 infection in pregnant mice...

..These data may partially explain why bacterial complication rates are higher during seasons when H3N2 viruses predominate. This animal model will be useful for further study of the mechanisms that underlie viral-bacterial synergism...

..The continued exploration of interactions between highly glycosylated viruses and surfactant proteins may lead to an improved understanding of the biology within the lung and strategies for viral control...

..Chloroquine is an inexpensive and widely available 9-aminoquinolone used in the management of malaria. Recently, in vitro assays suggest that chloroquine may have utility in the treatment of several viral infections including influenza...

..Mortality correlated with the development of pneumonia and lung inflammation but not with bacteremia. This model has the potential to help us understand the pathogenesis of severe lung infections...

..Assessment of vaccine effectiveness for both viral and bacterial vaccines should include measures of impact on secondary bacterial pneumonia...

..Phase III clinical trials to compare FluBlok and a licensed trivalent influenza vaccine for immunogenicity, safety and efficacy in preventing naturally occurring influenza are ongoing...

..In the not-so-distant future, strategies aimed at disarming pathogens without eliminating them may be more effective than our current treatment paradigms...

..These data suggest that strategies for eliminating bacteria without lysis coupled with immunomodulation of inflammation should be pursued clinically...

..Previously, influenza vaccination was linked with the increased incidence of GBS; however, whether antiganglioside antibodies are subsequently induced remains unresolved...

..Prophylaxis of parainfluenza virus infections with antivirals might be an effective strategy for prevention of secondary bacterial complications in humans...

..Alternate mechanisms besides alterations to replication are likely responsible for the enhanced virulence in mammalian hosts attributed to PB1-F2 in previous studies...

..Receipt of a vaccine to a related virus significantly enhanced the neutralization capacity of these responses, suggesting homologous vaccination against the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus would have a similar effect...

..Prevention of bacterial superinfection is likely to depend on effective antiviral measures...

..A strategy of weekly feedback to unvaccinated employees was the most important factor in enhancing the rate of vaccination acceptance and was particularly effective among the nursing staff...

..These data lend support to our hypothesis that the influenza virus neuraminidase contributes to secondary bacterial pneumonia and subsequent excess mortality...

..Gain of glycans within antigenic sites of the HA during adaptation to the mammalian lung facilitates immune evasion...

..Factors associated with HCW uptake of influenza vaccines have not previously been evaluated in a high compliance rate setting...

..To quantify the immune response of WASP- mice to three different pathogens: influenza A virus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium bovis...

..Seroprevalance of seasonal H1N1 (41.9%) and H3N2 (25.6%) viruses was similarly high. These data reflecting past infection of household cats raise the possibility that they may act as a vector of influenza transmission within households...

..These findings support the potential use of this vaccine in immunocompromised humans...

..Physicians and hospitals can begin by educating themselves on the problem and developing a pandemic plan for their own practice or organization...

..Identification and exploration of the underlying mechanisms responsible for this synergism will provide targets for prevention and treatment using drugs and vaccines...

..This review presents the current status of antiviral therapy of, and highlights the challenges presented by, the threat of pandemic influenza...

..Antibody-based therapies, when coupled with immune modulators, such as P4 peptide, may be an effective tool together with antibiotics in our armamentarium against severe pneumonia...

..By applying these insights to antiviral drug development, the potential exists to improve outcomes by means other than direct inhibition of the virus...

..The relationship between timing of the first dose of vancomycin relative to other antibiotics and outcome in these children, however, has not been addressed...

..t tests and analysis of variance were used to verify the findings...

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..Alcohol-based HH can compensate for inadequate infrastructure and supplies. We describe the implementation of alcohol-based HH in five high-risk wards of a pediatric hospital in El Salvador...

..The model of lethal synergism will be a useful tool for exploring this and other mechanisms underlying viral-bacterial interactions...

..However, many targets for immunization remain uncontrolled, and new or improved vaccines are emerging to meet these challenges...

..Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was recovered from 3.3% of hospital toilets when wipes were not in use. Use of wipes resulted in a 50-fold reduction in mean daily bacterial counts and eliminated MRSA...

..We propose that c-di-GMP can be used as an effective broad spectrum immunomodulator and vaccine adjuvant to prevent infectious diseases...