Immunomodulation in Respiratory Tract Infections

Immunomodulation in respiratory tract infections encompasses strategies that harness or reshape host immune responses to prevent, attenuate or resolve infection. Central to this approach is the balance between innate defences—such as barrier function, phagocyte activation and pattern‐recognition receptor signalling—and adaptive mechanisms involving antigen presentation, T‐cell polarisation and antibody production. Therapeutic modalities range from bacterial lysates and microbial metabolites to probiotic and synbiotic preparations, all of which aim to enhance mucosal immunity without provoking excessive inflammation. By targeting key pathways—toll-like receptor engagement, interferon induction, inflammasome modulation and T-helper cell skewing—these interventions can reduce infection frequency, limit antibiotic use and improve clinical outcomes across age groups. The global burden of acute and recurrent respiratory infections has driven interest in safe, broadly applicable immunomodulators that can complement vaccines and antimicrobials, offering scalable solutions for paediatric, adult and immunocompromised populations.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated how a polyvalent bacterial extract promotes a calibrated immune state in airway disease. In primary dendritic cells, the extract triggers MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways to induce interferon-β, bolstering antiviral defences. Concurrently, it primes pro-IL-1α and pro-IL-1β synthesis without full inflammasome activation, creating a ‘ready’ state that curbs excessive IL-1β release under alum-like challenge. In vivo, this dual action reduces inflammatory cell influx while maintaining pathogen responsiveness. These insights reveal a mechanism by which controlled inflammasome modulation and type I interferon upregulation converge to protect against virus‐induced airway pathology and secondary bacterial complic ations.

Immunomodulation in Respiratory Tract Infections publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in immunomodulation in respiratory tract infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bacterial lysate: Inactivated bacterial fragments that stimulate immune receptors.

Cytokines: Small proteins secreted by cells to coordinate immune responses.

Dendritic cells: Antigen‐presenting cells that bridge innate and adaptive immunity.

Inflammasome: Intracellular protein complex that processes proinflammatory cytokines.

Mucosal immunity: Immune protection at respiratory or gastrointestinal surfaces.

Microbiota: Community of commensal microorganisms influencing host defence.

References

1. OM-85 is an immunomodulator of interferon-β production and inflammasome activity. Scientific Reports (2017).
2. Six Weeks of Supplementation with Bovine Colostrum Effectively Reduces URTIs Symptoms Frequency and Gravity for Up to 20 Weeks in Pre-School Children. Nutrients (2023).
3. Leveraging the human microbiota to target bacterial respiratory pathogens: new paths toward an expanded antimicrobial armamentarium. mBio (2023).
4. Bacterial lysate therapy for the prevention of wheezing episodes and asthma exacerbations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Respiratory Review (2020).