The exacerbation of pneumonia in children with human adenovirus type 3 (HAdV-3E) is secondary to a Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection. The influence of host-pathogen interactions on disease progression remains unclear. It is important to note that S. aureus infections following an HAdV-3E infection are frequently observed in clinical settings, yet the underlying susceptibility mechanisms are not fully understood. This study utilized an A549 cell model to investigate secondary infection with S. aureus following an HAdV-3E infection. The findings suggest that HAdV-3E exacerbates the S. aureus infection by intensifying lung epithelial cell damage. The results highlight the role of HAdV-3E in enhancing the interferon signaling pathway through RIG-I (DDX58), resulting in the increased expression of interferon-stimulating factors like MX1, RSAD2, and USP18. The increase in interferon-stimulating factors inhibits the NF-κB and MAPK/P38 pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. These findings reveal new mechanisms of action for HAdV-3E and S. aureus in secondary infections, enhancing our comprehension of pathogenesis.
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; adenovirus type 3; coinfection.