Abstract
Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) affect a large population, yet the specific decisive factors are largely unknown. Here we study a population of 4407 children diagnosed with ARTI, comparing respiratory virome and serum cytokine profiles associated with multiple ARTIs and single ARTI during a six-year period. The relative abundance of Propionibacterium phages is significantly elevated in multiple ARTIs compared to single ARTI group. Serum levels of TIMP-1 and PDGF-BB are markedly increased in multiple ARTIs compared to single-ARTI and non-ARTI controls, making these two cytokines potential predictors for multiple ARTIs. The presence of Propionibacterium phages is associated with higher levels of TIMP-1 and PDGF-BB. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses show that the combination of TIMP-1, PDGF-BB and Propionibacterium phages could be a strong predictor for multiple ARTIs. These findings indicate that respiratory microbe homeostasis and specific cytokines are associated with the onset of multiple ARTIs over time.
Highlights
Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) affect a large population, yet the specific decisive factors are largely unknown
ARTIs can be classified as upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) of which most are caused by viral infections, or lower respiratory tract infections (LRIs) which are often associated with both bacterial and viral pathogens
We characterized the longitudinal changes in respiratory virome and cytokine profile in clinical samples obtained from children with either multiple ARTIs or single ARTI using metagenomic sequencing and proteomic chip-based cytokine assay, and discovered a number of factors that are significantly associated with the susceptibility of frequent ARTIs
Summary
Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) affect a large population, yet the specific decisive factors are largely unknown.
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