Disease modulation by TIV vaccination during secondary pneumococcal infections in influenza-infected mice

In this study, we show that a licensed influenza vaccine not only prevents severe disease upon influenza virus infection but also helps protect against enhanced morbidity due to co- or superinfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae in a mouse model. This protection correlates with better control of viral and bacterial titers, as well as with altered host immune responses during bacterial co- and superinfection, characterized by the recruitment of activated granulocytes.