Does lung microbiome play a causal or casual role in asthma?

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Asthma is a common childhood chronic disease with multifactorial causes, including environmental and genetic factors.
• The gut microbiome's role in allergic disease is increasingly recognized.
• Next-generation sequencing reveals distinct lung microbiome compositions in healthy and asthmatic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differences in lung microbiome composition between healthy children and those with asthma.
• To explore the potential impact of viral infections and antibiotic use on the lung microbiome and its relation to asthma.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing next-generation sequencing to identify bacterial phyla and species in the lung microbiome.
• Comparing microbiome composition in healthy subjects versus asthmatic patients.
• Analyzing the influence of factors like viral infections and antibiotic exposure.

Main Results:

• Healthy lungs show a prevalence of Bacteroidetes (Prevotella, Veillonella), while asthmatics exhibit more Proteobacteria (Haemophilus, Moraxella, Neisseria).
• Changes in lung microbiome composition are linked to asthma pathogenesis and inflammation.
• Early viral infections and antibiotic use can disrupt microbiota balance, potentially favoring Proteobacteria and worsening asthma.

Conclusions:

• Lung microbiome alterations, particularly an increase in Proteobacteria, are associated with asthma.
• Antibiotic use in early childhood warrants careful consideration due to potential adverse effects on gut and lung microbiota.
• Further research is needed on the impact of probiotics and prebiotics on the pediatric lung microbiome.