Impact of the OM-85 Bacterial Lysate on Mouse Lung Infection by Rhinovirus

Abstract

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic respiratory diseases that both children and adults could be diagnosed with and often induces long-term symptoms. Viral infections are a risk factor for asthma development and disease exacerbation in patients with asthma. Of the respiratory viruses, rhinovirus, the virus of common cold, is thought to be the most frequent cause of asthma exacerbations. OM-85, an extract of respiratory bacteria, has emerged as one of the potential treatments to prevent viral infections and their most severe symptoms. Research is still ongoing to investigate the effects and mechanisms of OM-85, although some countries have already allowed the use of this agent for the prophylaxis of respiratory viral infection. I worked on a research project in the laboratory of Donata Vercelli, MD at the University of Arizona to investigate the effects of OM-85 on rhinovirus infection in vivo.