Persistence of community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome toxin-producing Mycoplasma pneumoniae in refractory asthma

• Published in: Chest Vol. 140; no. 2; p. 401
• Main Authors: Peters, Jay, Singh, Harjinder, Brooks, Edward G, Diaz, Joseph, Kannan, Thirumalai R, Coalson, Jacqueline J, Baseman, Janet G, Cagle, Marianna, Baseman, Joel B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2011
• Subjects: Adhesins, Bacterial - blood; Adult; Asthma - complications; Asthma - microbiology; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacterial Toxins - metabolism; Community-Acquired Infections; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycoplasma pneumoniae - metabolism; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - complications; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - microbiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - complications; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - microbiology; Sputum - microbiology

The role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) in the initiation and persistence of asthma remains elusive. Mp community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome toxin (CARDS Tx) is a unique virulence factor that induces an intense lymphocytic response and exacerbates asthma in animal models. We sought to det...