The upper-airway microbiota and loss of asthma control among asthmatic children

Nat Commun. 2019 Dec 16;10(1):5714. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-13698-x.

Abstract

The airway microbiome has an important role in asthma pathophysiology. However, little is known on the relationships between the airway microbiome of asthmatic children, loss of asthma control, and severe exacerbations. Here we report that the microbiota's dynamic patterns and compositions are related to asthma exacerbations. We collected nasal blow samples (n = 319) longitudinally during a clinical trial at 2 time-points within one year: randomization when asthma is under control, and at time of early loss of asthma control (yellow zone (YZ)). We report that participants whose microbiota was dominated by the commensal Corynebacterium + Dolosigranulum cluster at RD experience the lowest rates of YZs (p = 0.005) and have longer time to develop at least 2 episodes of YZ (p = 0.03). The airway microbiota have changed from randomization to YZ. A switch from the Corynebacterium + Dolosigranulum cluster at randomization to the Moraxella- cluster at YZ poses the highest risk of severe asthma exacerbation (p = 0.04). Corynebacterium's relative abundance at YZ is inversely associated with severe exacerbation (p = 0.002).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Asthma / diagnosis*
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / microbiology
  • Carnobacteriaceae / immunology
  • Carnobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fluticasone / therapeutic use*
  • Host Microbial Interactions / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbiota / immunology*
  • Moraxella / immunology
  • Moraxella / isolation & purification
  • Nasal Mucosa / immunology
  • Nasal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Staphylococcus / immunology
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus / immunology
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification
  • Symbiosis / immunology*
  • Symptom Flare Up
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Fluticasone