Can Therapeutic Targeting of the Human Microbiome Influence Asthma Management? A Pro/Con Debate

Abstract

Asthma is a clinically heterogenous disease and despite substantial improvements in therapies, there remains an unmet need for well-tolerated, effective treatments. Observational studies have demonstrated that alterations in the respiratory and gut microbiome are associated with the development of asthma as well as its severity. These findings are supported by preclinical models demonstrating that respiratory and gut microbes can alter airway inflammation. Therapeutic approaches to target the human microbiome have been increasingly applied to a wide range of acute and chronic diseases, but there are currently no microbiome-based therapeutics approved for the treatment of asthma. This clinical commentary addresses the future role of microbiome-based therapeutics in asthma management from both a pro and con perspective. We examine (1) the prospects for clinical studies demonstrating a causal relationship between the human microbiome and the severity of asthma, (2) the challenges and potential solutions for designing, testing, and implementing a microbiome-based therapeutic, and (3) the possibility of microbiome-based therapeutics for conditions co-morbid to asthma. We conclude by identifying research priorities that will help determine the future of microbiome-based therapeutics for the management of asthma.