Robert Root-Bernstein Author
Subjects of specialization
Affiliation
Physiological interactions, Physiology, Biomedical and Physical Sciences, Autoimmunity
Department of Physiology, 2174 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building,Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
Research Article Subscription
Author(s): Robert Root-Bernstein, Abigail Podufaly and Francesco Aimone
Antigenic Complementarity between Influenza A Virus and Haemophilus influenzae may Drive Lethal Co-Infection Such as that Seen in 1918-19 Pandemic
Pfeiffer’s bacillus, now known as Haemophilus influenzae (HI), was strongly implicated in the high lethality of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. Influenza virus (IV) infection is often complicated by (HI) super-infection and certainly was so in 1918-19. We propose that the influenza pandemic of 1918-19 was caused by concurrent pandemics of IV and HI that overwhelmed co-infected individuals through antigenic synergy between the two infections. Using T cell receptor sequences specific for IV and HI antigens, we demonstrate t... view moreĀ»