Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
11:54
Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
Nasal Microbiota Associated with the Lung Radiomic Features in Asthma
Lijuan Hua1, Wenxue Bai1, Xuezhao Wang1
1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China.
International Journal of General Medicine
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Asthma patients show altered nasal lavage fluid (NLF) microbiota linked to lung imaging features and inflammation. This nasal microbiota may influence lower airway characteristics in asthma, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation.
- The role of the upper airway microbiota in asthma pathogenesis is increasingly recognized.
- Understanding the interplay between the nasal microbiota and lung structure is crucial for asthma management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the nasal lavage fluid (NLF) microbiota in asthma patients.
- To explore the relationship between NLF microbiota and lung radiomic features.
- To investigate correlations between microbiota, lung function, and inflammation markers.
Main Methods:
- Collected NLF from 39 participants (12 controls, 27 asthma) for 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Analyzed lung radiomics using manual methods and NeuLungCARE software.
- Employed correlation, regression, and Jensen-Shannon Divergence (JSD) clustering to analyze data.
Main Results:
- Asthma patients had significantly elevated NLF bacterial load compared to controls.
- NLF bacterial load correlated positively with sputum eosinophil percentage and mucus plugs score.
- Microbiota diversity indices (Shannon, Chao) showed significant correlations with lung radiomic features and lung function (FEV1).
- Two distinct asthma microbiota clusters were identified, differing in diversity, MDI, bronchiectasis prevalence, and exacerbation risk.
Conclusions:
- NLF microbiota is significantly associated with lung radiomic, functional, and inflammatory markers in asthma.
- Distinct asthma microbiota profiles correlate with specific lung imaging findings and clinical characteristics.
- Further prospective studies are needed to elucidate the impact of NLF microbiota on lower airway characteristics in asthma.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
01:29Pneumonia I: Introduction
Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...