Besides the antiviral response, a bacterial infection

also leads to the induction of IFN-I synthesis. However, in contrast to the role of IFN-I in response to a viral infection, the effect on the host in the case of bacteria may be either beneficial or detrimental (Table 1). The precise mechanism/s behind this dualistic effect of IFN-I on bacteria is not fully understood, but recent studies have provided some insights into how IFN-I can suppress antibacterial immunity. For example, Teles et al.[12] reported that the in vitro induction of IFN-I by human monocytes in response to Mycobacterium leprae promotes the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. IL-10 together with IFN-I synergistically limits the production of type II IFN (IFN-γ) [12], an important effector Aloxistatin supplier cytokine against bacterial infections. In a mouse

model of Francisella tularensis and Listeria Selleckchem MLN0128 monocytogenes infections, IFN-I was shown to suppress gamma delta T cell/IL-17 responses and a subsequent neutrophil recruitment [13]. As both IL-17 and neutrophils play an important role in antibacterial immunity (reviewed in [14]), IFN-I is highly detrimental to the host during F. tularemia infections. Regardless of differences in reported mechanism/s, it is clear that IFN-I can enhance the host susceptibility to certain bacterial pathogens by suppressing the host’s antibacterial immunity. Live viral infections in a mouse model cause IFN-I-dependent systemic partial lymphocyte activation [5, 15, 16], characterized by increased expression of activation markers CD69 and CD86, but not CD25 (the interleukin-2 receptor α chain) [15, 16]. The vast majority

of lymphocytes undergo this partial activation within 24 h of a viral infection with the cell surface marker expression returning to normal at around day 5 post-infection [16]. A recent report suggested a possible biological role for this phenomenon. It has been shown that the early activation of CD69 temporarily retains lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs, presumably promoting antigen-specific interactions of lymphocytes with antigen-presenting Farnesyltransferase cells [17]. Concurrent respiratory infections are common among young children and the elderly, and epidemiological studies during the influenza pandemic of 2009 identified co-infection with other respiratory viruses such as coronavirus, human bocavirus, respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinoviruses [18-20]. Consistent with epidemiology studies, mouse models of viral diseases show enhanced susceptibility to secondary, unrelated viral episodes following primary viral infections [16, 21].