Altered respiratory microbiota composition and functionality associated with asthma early in life

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pulmonology
• Genetics

Background:

• The respiratory tract microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining respiratory health.
• Limited data exists on the respiratory microbiota in Middle Eastern asthmatic populations.
• This study focuses on Emirati subjects to investigate asthma-associated respiratory microbiota.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the composition and functionality of the respiratory microbiota in Emirati asthmatic patients.
• To identify microbial differences associated with asthma in the Emirati population.
• To explore the potential role of respiratory microbiota in early asthma development.

Main Methods:

• 16S rRNA and ITS2-gene based microbial profiling was performed on expectorated sputum samples.
• Samples were collected from 40 adult and pediatric Emirati individuals, with and without asthma.
• Differential abundance testing and functional profiling were conducted.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in bacterial phyla (Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria) and fungal phyla (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota) were observed between asthmatic and non-asthmatic groups.
• Poorly controlled asthmatics showed depletion of Penicillium aethiopicum and Alternaria spp., while steroid and leukotriene receptor antagonist users had an expansion of Malassezia spp.
• Pediatric asthmatics exhibited increased amino acid, carbohydrate, and fatty acid degradation pathways, contrasting with biosynthesis pathways in non-asthmatic controls.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals distinct respiratory microbiota compositions in the Emirati population linked to asthma.
• These findings provide insights into the potential role of the respiratory microbiota in early-onset asthma.
• The results may inform the development of novel screening biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for asthma.