# VIRAL INFECTION IN PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE PATHOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 1987 · $129,128

## Abstract

Otitis media is a significant worldwide health problem, with significant
morbidity related to frequent illness in early childhood, leading to
communicative disorders and hearing loss in some affected children.
Respiratory virus infections appear to play a major role in the
pathogenesis of otitis media.  Streptococcus pneumoniae is the principal
bacterial pathogen infecting the middle ear of children with otitis media,
and it is well known that disease due to pneumococcus often complicates
other respiratory viral infections.

The pathogenesis of pneumococcal otitis media during infection with
influenza, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial viruses will be
investigated in chinchillas harboring Streptococcus pneumoniae in their
upper respiratory tract.  Influenza A virus strains of differing virulence
in humans, including a cold-adapted vaccine strain, respiratory syncytial
virus and parainfluenza viruses will be studied for their effects on
respiratory cilia, adherence of pneumococci to epithelial cells, eustachian
tube ventilation, and peripheral blood and tissue polymorphonuclear
leukocyte function.  A study will be performed in children with upper
respiratory viral infection and paracentesis confirmed acute otitis media
to measure the effect of specific, laboratory documented respiratory virus
infection on eustachian tube and polymorphonuclear leukocyte function.
This human study will provide important data for correlating observations
made in the animal model with the human disease.  Susceptibility of
virus-infected animals to pneumococcal disease will be compared among the
virus strains, and rates of clearing pneumococci from the nasopharynx will
be compared.  The influence of prior colonization with pneumococcus and of
active immunization with attenuated influenza virus on the subsequent
susceptibility to pneumococcal otitis media will be investigated.  This
investigation will provide important new information concerning the role of
local and systemic host defense mechanisms which protect against
pneumococcal disease.  Specific defects in host defense produced by
respiratory viruses will be described.  Because the animal model closely
parallels respiratory virus infection and pneumococcal disease in humans,
the results of this investigation will suggest approaches for treating and
preventing pneumococcal otitis media in humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127007
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017160-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KABJZBBJ4B54
- **Principal Investigator:** G. Scott Giebink
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $129,128
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-08-01 → 1988-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127007

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127007, VIRAL INFECTION IN PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE PATHOGENESIS (5R01AI017160-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127007. Licensed CC0.

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