Pharyngeal Microflora Disruption by Antibiotics Promotes Airway Hyperresponsiveness after Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Background Regulatory T cells (Treg cells), which are essential for regulation of immune response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, are promoted by pharyngeal commensal pneumococcus. The effects of pharyngeal microflora disruption by antibiotics on airway responsiveness and relative immune responses after RSV infection have not been clarified.