Common airway bacterium helps mice lungs fight pneumonia in study

A bacterium commonly found in human airways and mouths may assist the lungs in defending against pneumonia, Medical Xpress reported. The research was conducted by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [1]

Researchers found that exposure to Prevotella melaninogenica altered the behavior of immune cells inside the lungs of mice. The bacterium is typically present in healthy human airways. [1]

When the mice were subsequently exposed to Streptococcus pneumoniae, their immune responses were better prepared to fight the infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae is recognized as a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia. [1]

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms present in almost all environments on Earth, including air, soil, and biological organisms. The findings highlight how resident microbes inside the body can interact with the immune system to offer protection against harmful pathogens. [1][2]