Synergistic proinflammatory responses induced by polymicrobial colonization of epithelial surfaces
Before the title causes your eyes to glaze over, let me put this in a better light. This study confirms that bacteria present along the respiratory tract can amplify inflammation occurring in the airways.
This study specifically looked at Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. So why is this interesting? Studies have shown that the use of probiotics such as lactobacillis can change the composition of the flora of the nasopharynx to less Strep and Staph and more Lactobaccillis. That can go in reverse–kill off normal flora with antibiotics, stick with processed foods present in todays’ foods (fermented foods such as yogurt and miso and tempeh contain probiotics, while Staph and Strep are pretty much found everywhere) so the good bacteria doesn’t get replaced, and Viola–instant source of increased airway inflammation.