Developmental patterns in the nasopharyngeal microbiome during infancy are associated with asthma risk.
J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020;
147:1683-1691. [PMID:
33091409 PMCID:
PMC7571460 DOI:
10.1016/j.jaci.2020.10.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background
Studies indicate that the nasal microbiome may correlate strongly with the presence or future risk of childhood asthma.
Objectives
In this study, we tested whether developmental trajectories of the nasopharyngeal microbiome in early life and the composition of the microbiome during illnesses were related to risk of childhood asthma.
Methods
Children participating in the Childhood Origins of Asthma study (N = 285) provided nasopharyngeal mucus samples in the first 2 years of life, during routine healthy study visits (at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age), and during episodes of respiratory illnesses, all of which were analyzed for respiratory viruses and bacteria. We identified developmental trajectories of early-life microbiome composition, as well as predominant bacteria during respiratory illnesses, and we correlated these with presence of asthma at 6, 8, 11, 13, and 18 years of age.
Results
Of the 4 microbiome trajectories identified, a Staphylococcus-dominant microbiome in the first 6 months of life was associated with increased risk of recurrent wheezing by age 3 years and asthma that persisted throughout childhood. In addition, this trajectory was associated with the early onset of allergic sensitization. During wheezing illnesses, detection of rhinoviruses and predominance of Moraxella were associated with asthma that persisted throughout later childhood.
Conclusion
In infancy, the developmental composition of the microbiome during healthy periods and the predominant microbes during acute wheezing illnesses are both associated with the subsequent risk of developing persistent childhood asthma.
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