Nasal microbiota dominated by Moraxella spp. is associated with respiratory health in the elderly population: a case control study

Harriet C. Hafkamp,Ed J. Kuijper,Wim G. V. Quint,Cornelis W. Knetsch,Ellen H. A. van den Munckhof,Maurits N. C. de Koning,Josephine de Kluijver

doi:10.1186/s12931-020-01443-8

Abstract

BackgroundThe elderly (≥65 years) are one of the populations most at risk for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The aim of this study was to determine whether nasal and/or oropharyngeal microbiota profiles are associated with age and RTIs.MethodsNasal and oropharyngeal swabs of 152 controls and 152 patients with an RTI were included. The latter group consisted of 72 patients with an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and 80 with a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). Both nasal and oropharyngeal swabs were subjected to microbiota profiling using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Moraxella species were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and culture.ResultsBased on the microbiota profiles of the controls and the patients with an RTI, eight nasal and nine oropharyngeal microbiota clusters were defined. Nasal microbiota dominated by either Moraxella catarrhalis or Moraxella nonliquefaciens was significantly more prevalent in elderly compared to mid-aged adults in the control group (p = 0.002). Dominance by M. catarrhalis/nonliquefaciens was significantly less prevalent in elderly with an LRTI (p = 0.001) compared to controls with similar age.ConclusionsNasal microbiota dominated by M. catarrhalis/nonliquefaciens is associated with respiratory health in the elderly population.

Highlights

The elderly (≥65 years) are one of the populations most at risk for respiratory tract infections (RTIs)
The aim of this study was to determine whether nasal and/or oropharyngeal microbiota profiles are associated with age and RTIs
The remaining 80 (53%) patients were hospitalized with a lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), which was diagnosed by the treating physician

Summary

Introduction

The elderly (≥65 years) are one of the populations most at risk for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). During the first year of life, host and environmental factors, such as genetic predisposition, mode of delivery, Munckhof et al Respiratory Research (2020) 21:181 samples [6,7,8,9,10]. These microbiota profiles have been associated with an increased risk of recurrent wheeze and asthma in later childhood [9]. The differences in susceptibility to RTIs likely arise from a complex interplay between mucosa, innate and adaptive immunity, and airway microbiota

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