Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2019 Dec;26(3):129-139. 10.14776/piv.2019.26.e24.

Respiratory Microbiome in Children

• Kim DH

• KMID: 2466457
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2019.26.e24

Abstract

The human respiratory tract hosts both pathogenic and commensal bacteria. The development of well-conserved 16S rRNA sequencing and culture-independent techniques has enabled many achievements in the study of the human microbiome. Microbial composition of the respiratory tract in early childhood has been shown to correlate to respiratory health in later stages of life. This review highlights current understandings of respiratory microbiota development in healthy children, examples of microbial interactions, impacts on the host immune system, and the relationship between respiratory tract microbiome and respiratory health.

Keyword

Microbiota; Microbiome; Children; Respiratory infections

MeSH Terms

Bacteria
Child*
Humans
Immune System
Microbial Interactions
Microbiota*
Respiratory System
Respiratory Tract Infections

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Host and environmental factors that influence the respiratory microbiota.

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  Fig. 2 Gut-lung communication. The oropharynx, bloodstream, and nerve may serve as routes of immunologic communication between the gut and the lung. Abbreviations: SCFAs, short-chain fatty acids.

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