Cellular immunity in adenoids and blood of otitis media-prone children

Middle ear infections (otitis media, OM) are a major burden on health services worldwide. More than 80% of children will have suffered with an OM infection by 3 years of age. Of these juveniles, almost 40% will develop recurring infections, with little relief experienced from antibiotic therapies. This research project aims to improve the understanding of the immune-regulation of OM in children, with a specific focus on the cellular pathways driving immune-suppression and infection tolerance in OM-prone children. The study described here involves two cohorts of non-OM prone children and OM prone children. Patients scheduled for adenoidectomy due to clinical reasons, including adenoid hypertrophy and OM, were recruited into the study for the collection of their clinical data and tissue samples including adenoids, blood, nasopharyngeal and saliva aspirates. The tissue samples and clinical data were used to determine immune differences between the two cohorts through the analysis of both clinical microbiology and immune cell responses to OM pathogens. Understanding cellular immune regulation in OM has the potential to identify physiological factors that may be used to influence adenoidectomy, immunotherapy and vaccine treatments for OM. This approach aims to enable children to experience a quicker recovery from infection, possibly avoiding the progression to chronic disease. This would result in an overall improved quality of life due to reduced adverse side effects experienced that are associated with prolonged OM-related disease.