Inhaled countermeasures for respiratory tract viruses

Aerosol biology (aerobiology) as it relates to respiratory viral diseases is an understudied area considering the vast microbiome in the nasopharynx and related upper respiratory tract (URT) airways [1-3]. Despite the abundance of microbes that coexist at mucosal surfaces, comparatively few of these microorganisms are pathogenic with most occupying commensal or opportunistic niches in the URT microbiome. However, several pathogens have evolved airborne transmission as a primary route of infection in part to gain direct access to the respiratory system in order to facilitate host-to-host transmission. One example is inuenza virus, which can be considered an obligate airborne pathogen. Inuenza infection induces host generation of large quantities of virus-laden aerosols via coughs and sneezes that typically serve as a means for virus transmission via the respiratory system.