Researchers map micro-organisms in throat and nose

For the first time, researchers have conducted a large-scale study on the microbiome of our upper airways. The results show that age, gender, environmental factors, and disease influence its composition. The microbiome is essential for our health and the new study provides an important basis for future research.

Researchers from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Utrecht 木瓜福利影视, the 木瓜福利影视 Medical Centre Utrecht and the 木瓜福利影视 of Edinburgh worked together to create the most complete atlas of our respiratory microbiome to date. They their findings last week in the prestigious journal Cell. On behalf of Utrecht 木瓜福利影视, Mari-Lee Odendaal and Lidwien Smit collaborated on the study.

Nasal micro-organisms change as we age

De bovenste luchtwegen, keel- en neusholte, bij de mens.

The respiratory microbiome is a collective term for the micro-organisms found in our oral and nasal pharynx. The microbiome protects our airways and prevents pathogens from entering. Despite this important role, little was known about the composition of the microbiome in the healthy population and the factors that influence it. The new study changes this.

The composition of the microbiome was found to be strongly related to age, especially in the nasal pharynx. The researchers found that the nasal microbiome continues to develop into early adulthood (15 to 24 years). This finding is remarkable because the throat microbiome is already fully developed during childhood, similar to the gut microbiome which has been widely studied.

Influence environment, lifestyle, and disease

Gender, social contacts, and seasons also influence the nasal microbiome, besides age. For example, the researchers observed differences in the development of the nasal microbiome between men and women. These differences first become apparent during puberty and may be the result of hormonal fluctuations. The throat microbiome appears to be mainly influenced by lifestyle. Smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, and antibiotic use all have a significant effect on the composition of the throat microbiome.

The researchers also found a link between the microbiome and respiratory health. They showed that the microbiome in people with recent mild symptoms of respiratory infections is different from that in healthy people. How much the nasal microbiome deviates correlates with the severity of respiratory symptoms. Although viruses are probably responsible for these symptoms, a clear effect on the bacterial composition of the microbiome can be seen. The researchers also found changes in the nasal microbiome in people who had suffered from pneumonia in the past three years.

Large-scale study offers future prospects

For the study, the researchers collected more than 5,500 samples from the upper respiratory tract of 3,260 healthy Dutch individuals in all age groups, from newborns to people over 80. They then used DNA techniques to determine the number of micro-organisms and map the diversity and composition of the microbiome in detail.

The new insights are essential to better understand how the microbiome influences and can prevent respiratory diseases. The results provide an important starting point for future research on the role of micro-organisms in infection susceptibility and severity, as well as the contributing factors.