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Updated: May 10, 2025

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples
Published on: December 22, 2014
The Respiratory Tract Microbiome and Human Health
Patricia Fernández de Córdoba-Ansón1, Iván Linares-Ambohades1, Fernando Baquero1,2
1Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
The respiratory tract microbiome (RTM) is a multi-kingdom microbial ecosystem that inhabits various niches of the respiratory system. While previously overlooked, there is now sufficient evidence that the RTM plays a crucial role in human health related to immune system training and protection against pathogens. Accordingly, dysbiosis or disequilibrium of the RTM has been linked to several communicable and non-communicable respiratory diseases, highlighting the need to unveil its role in health and disease. Here, we define the RTM and its place in microbiome medicine. Moreover, we outline the challenges of RTM research, emphasising the need for combining methodologies, including multi-omics and computational tools. We also discuss the RTM's potential for diagnosing, preventing and treating respiratory diseases and developing novel microbiome-based therapies to improve pulmonary health.
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