[S3] New approach for mycology on the basis of the microbes sharing

[S3-5] A Study of Host Response in the Influenza-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis

○Shogo Takatsuka¹, Yurika Dantsuji¹, Ken Miyazawa¹, Tatsuya Inukai², Masahiro Abe¹, Keigo Ueno¹, Takashi Umeyama¹, Yasutaka Hoshino¹, Satoshi Yamagoe¹, Yoshitsugu Miyazaki¹ (¹National Institute of Infectious Diseases, ²Tokyo Medical Univ.)

In recent years, Aspergillus-mediated fungal infections have become the most common cause of death. In particular, secondary infection with Aspergillus after infection with influenza viruses often results in severe disease and death, even in healthy individuals without compromised immunity. In this study, we established a model of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in mice and analyzed the number of Aspergillus in the lungs after infection and their survival rates. The results showed that the number of Aspergillus in the lung after infection was significantly higher than that in the group infected with Aspergillus alone. The survival rate of the secondary Aspergillus infection group decreased to about 40% by day 9 after infection. Further analysis of host responses in vivo showed that Aspergillus infection alone induced a neutrophil-dominated host response, whereas secondary Aspergillus infection enhanced the biological response, in which monocytes and macrophages were actively involved in addition to the accumulation of neutrophils in the lungs. These results may contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.