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Moraxella-dominated pediatric nasopharyngeal microbiota associate with upper respiratory infection and sinusitis

Kathryn E McCauley1, Gregory DeMuri2, Kole Lynch1

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America.

Plos One
|December 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Distinct upper airway bacteria in children influence respiratory health. A Moraxella-dominated nasopharyngeal microbiota increases the risk of upper respiratory infections (URI) and sinusitis in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Pediatric upper airway microbiota structures are linked to respiratory viral infections and asthma.
  • Nasopharyngeal (NP) microbiota may influence acute sinusitis and upper respiratory infection (URI) risk in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate distinct nasopharyngeal microbiota structures in children.
  • To determine relationships between NP microbiota, environmental exposures, and risk of sinusitis or URI.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed bacterial 16S rRNA profiles from nasopharyngeal swabs of 58 children over one year.
  • Correlated microbiota composition with environmental variables, URI, and sinusitis outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Nasopharyngeal microbiota composition varied significantly with clinical outcomes and environmental factors.
  • Four distinct microbiota structures were identified, differing in URI and sinusitis outcomes.
  • A Moraxella-dominated microbiota (Cluster I) was associated with increased risk of URI and sinusitis.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct nasopharyngeal microbiota structures are present in pediatric populations.
  • Moraxella-dominated NP microbiota is associated with increased risk of URI and sinusitis in children.
Abstract

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