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Adenotonsillar microbiome: an update
James Jordan Johnston1, Richard Douglas1
1Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Insights
This review explores the upper airway microbiome in children. New molecular techniques reveal a broader picture of bacteria in adenoids and tonsils than traditional culture methods.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Paediatric Health
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Pathogenic bacteria in adenoids and tonsils cause significant illness in children.
- Adenoid hyperplasia links to otitis media; tonsil hyperplasia links to recurrent tonsillitis and sleep apnea.
- Traditional culture methods provide incomplete insights into upper airway microbiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel culture-independent molecular techniques for analyzing upper airway microbiomes.
- To summarize findings from studies using these advanced methods on adenoids and tonsils.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing for culture-independent surveys.
- Investigating the microbiome on the surface and within adenoid and palatine tonsil tissues.
Main Results:
- Molecular surveys reveal a more comprehensive bacterial profile than culture-based studies.
- Identified diverse microbial communities in paediatric adenoids and tonsils.
Conclusions:
- Culture-independent methods offer a deeper understanding of the upper airway microbiome.
- This knowledge is crucial for addressing paediatric respiratory and ear conditions.
Abstract:
Pathogenic bacteria associated with the adenoids and tonsils cause much morbidity in the paediatric population. Hyperplasia of the adenoids is associated with otitis media with effusion and hyperplasia of the palatine tonsils is associated with both recurrent tonsillitis and obstructive sleep apnoea. Most current knowledge of the microbiology of the upper airways has been derived from culture-based studies, which usually reflect only a small fraction of the bacteria present on the mucosal surface. Culture-independent molecular surveys based on 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing are now being employed to determine the microbiota on the surface and within the tissue of adenoids and palatine tonsils. This review describes the new techniques applied in determining the microbiome and summarises the results of studies employing these techniques.
