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Fungal–bacterial interactions in the respiratory tract: from microbial interplay to clinical implications | mBio
Respiratory infections are among the most common infectious diseases worldwide and range from mild, self-limiting illnesses to severe, life-threatening conditions (Fig. 1). They are broadly classified by anatomical site into upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and by epidemiology into community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections (1, 2). Although viruses account for the majority of respiratory infections, bacterial and fungal pathogens are major contributors to severe disease, chronic infection, and poor clinical outcomes, particularly in vulnerable patient populations (3–6). Infections caused by emerging fungal pathogens are of increasing concern, yet their interactions with other respiratory microbes remain understudied. Studies from other anatomical sites can therefore provide a valuable framework for understanding potential respiratory interactions. Although local conditions influence whether and to what extent microbial processes are expressed, microbes may retain the genetic capacity for similar cellular processes and interkingdom interactions across host niches. Mechanistic insights from other body sites can thus generate testable hypotheses about fungal–bacterial interactions in the respiratory tract.
