Airway inflammation underpins the pathogenesis of the major human chronic respiratory
diseases. It is now well recognized that respiratory infections with bacteria and viruses are
important in the induction, progression and exacerbation of these diseases. There are no
effective therapies that prevent or reverse these events. The development and use of mouse
models are proving valuable in understanding the role of infection in disease pathogenesis.
They have recently been used to show that infections in early life alter immune responses …