Virus-induced susceptibility to Fungal Infections
It has been well established at cytomegalovirus is a risk factor for developing Invasive Aspergillosis in both solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Moreover, there is increasingly strong evidence that ICU patients with severe influenza A virus (IAV) infection are at elevated risk of developing secondary fungal infections with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). Finally, in the current COVID-19 pandemic there are multiple case reports of similar susceptibility to secondary fungal infections with Aspergillus fumigatus. However, how virus infection is driving susceptibility to invasive fungal disease remains unresolved at a molecular level. Our lab has developed a robust small animal IAV-Afcoinfection model that can be used to dissect the molecular mechanism(s) by which IAV infection increases susceptibility to Af challenge. Using this new model, we hope to provide insights into the mechanisms driving Af susceptibility following IAV infection.