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  • OUTLOOK

Respiratory syncytial virus co-infections might conspire to worsen disease

Emerging evidence suggests that pathogens can pair up to work together against immune system defences.
  1. Katherine Bourzac

    1. Katherine Bourzac is a freelance journalist in San Francisco, California.

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An illustration of a man exploring a cave shaped like lungs, his torch light is exposing many viruses and bacteria.

Illustration: Chiara Zarmati

The respiratory tract is a rich ecological niche. In addition to the regular residents of the virome and microbiome, infectious agents such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) come and go, and sometimes overlap. RSV can cause acute illness and the virus can sometimes linger. Viruses that stick around can cause chronic conditions such as asthma1, and could potentially change the course of future respiratory infections.

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Nature 621, S60-S61 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02959-x

This article is part of Nature Outlook: Respiratory syncytial virus, a supplement produced with financial support from Moderna. Nature maintains full independence in all editorial decisions related to the content. About this content.

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