Molecular determinants of the pathogenesis of disease due to non-typable Haemophilus influenzae

Venkatarama K. Rao, Graham P. Krasan, David R. Hendrixson, Suzanne Dawid, Joseph W. St. Geme

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae is a common commensal organism in the human upper respiratory tract and an important cause of localized respiratory tract disease. The pathogenesis of disease begins with bacterial colonization of the nasopharynx, a process that involves establishment on the mucosal surface and evasion of local immune mechanisms. Under the proper circumstances, the organism spreads contiguously to the middle ear, the sinuses, or the lungs, and then stimulates a brisk inflammatory response, producing symptomatic infection. In this review, we summarize our present understanding of the molecular determinants of this sequence of events. Continued investigation of the molecular mechanism of non-typable H. influenzae pathogenicity should facilitate development of novel approaches to the treatment and prevention of H. influenzae disease. Copyright (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)99-129
Number of pages31
JournalFEMS Microbiology Reviews
Volume23
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1999

Keywords

  • Disease
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Non-typable
  • Pathogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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