TWiV 1325: Sticky flu with Hannah Rowe

Respiratory bacteria, particularly *Streptococcus pneumoniae*, significantly influence the environmental stability and airborne transmission of influenza viruses. These bacteria bind to influenza particles via lipoteichoic acid, creating complexes that protect the virus from desiccation-induced loss of infectivity. Research using ferret models demonstrates that this bacterial-viral interaction is essential for efficient transmission, as nasal depletion of these bacteria reduces viral spread. Furthermore, the respiratory microbiome acts as a complex redox environment; while hydrogen peroxide produced by *S. pneumoniae* can damage virions, the presence of catalase-positive bacteria like *Staphylococcus* preserves viral viability. Hannah Rowe, a researcher at Oregon State University, highlights that these findings suggest potential public health interventions, such as utilizing nasal probiotics or targeted vaccination to modulate the respiratory microbiome and curb the transmission of influenza and potentially other respiratory viruses.