The Home Microbiome and Childhood Asthma

Abstract

RationaleExposure to microorganisms has repeatedly been found to influence the development of atopic diseases, such as asthma. This relationship has been best understood as an inverse correlation between microbial diversity and atopic disease. Innovative techniques have been developed that more comprehensively characterize microbial communities. The aim of this study, therefore, was to characterize the home microbiota of asthmatics and non-asthmatics.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis was performed as part of the Kansas City Safe and Healthy Homes Partnership. The microbiome was compared in the dust from homes of asthmatic children (n=16) and healthy controls (n=7). Dust samples were collected from home vacuum bags. DNA was extracted and bacterial 16s rRNA genes amplified. Bacterial products were fragmented, biotin labeled, and hybridized to the PhyloChip Array. Phylochip Arrays were scanned using a GeneArray scanner.Results1746 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in each of the 23 samples. Bacterial genus richness did not differ in the homes of asthmatics and non-asthmatics (p=0.09). The Bray Curtis distance between samples demonstrated separation between the whole microbiome of the two groups. All of the top 12 OTUs isolated belonged to one of the five phyla, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes and were all increased in abundance in the samples from homes of asthmatic children (p=0.001 to p=7.2 x 10-6).ConclusionsThese results suggest that home dust has a characteristic microbiota which is disturbed in the homes of asthmatics. Further investigations are needed to determine how home microbial exposures influence the respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal microbiomes of its inhabitants. RationaleExposure to microorganisms has repeatedly been found to influence the development of atopic diseases, such as asthma. This relationship has been best understood as an inverse correlation between microbial diversity and atopic disease. Innovative techniques have been developed that more comprehensively characterize microbial communities. The aim of this study, therefore, was to characterize the home microbiota of asthmatics and non-asthmatics. Exposure to microorganisms has repeatedly been found to influence the development of atopic diseases, such as asthma. This relationship has been best understood as an inverse correlation between microbial diversity and atopic disease. Innovative techniques have been developed that more comprehensively characterize microbial communities. The aim of this study, therefore, was to characterize the home microbiota of asthmatics and non-asthmatics. MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis was performed as part of the Kansas City Safe and Healthy Homes Partnership. The microbiome was compared in the dust from homes of asthmatic children (n=16) and healthy controls (n=7). Dust samples were collected from home vacuum bags. DNA was extracted and bacterial 16s rRNA genes amplified. Bacterial products were fragmented, biotin labeled, and hybridized to the PhyloChip Array. Phylochip Arrays were scanned using a GeneArray scanner. This cross-sectional analysis was performed as part of the Kansas City Safe and Healthy Homes Partnership. The microbiome was compared in the dust from homes of asthmatic children (n=16) and healthy controls (n=7). Dust samples were collected from home vacuum bags. DNA was extracted and bacterial 16s rRNA genes amplified. Bacterial products were fragmented, biotin labeled, and hybridized to the PhyloChip Array. Phylochip Arrays were scanned using a GeneArray scanner. Results1746 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in each of the 23 samples. Bacterial genus richness did not differ in the homes of asthmatics and non-asthmatics (p=0.09). The Bray Curtis distance between samples demonstrated separation between the whole microbiome of the two groups. All of the top 12 OTUs isolated belonged to one of the five phyla, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes and were all increased in abundance in the samples from homes of asthmatic children (p=0.001 to p=7.2 x 10-6). 1746 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in each of the 23 samples. Bacterial genus richness did not differ in the homes of asthmatics and non-asthmatics (p=0.09). The Bray Curtis distance between samples demonstrated separation between the whole microbiome of the two groups. All of the top 12 OTUs isolated belonged to one of the five phyla, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes and were all increased in abundance in the samples from homes of asthmatic children (p=0.001 to p=7.2 x 10-6). ConclusionsThese results suggest that home dust has a characteristic microbiota which is disturbed in the homes of asthmatics. Further investigations are needed to determine how home microbial exposures influence the respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal microbiomes of its inhabitants. These results suggest that home dust has a characteristic microbiota which is disturbed in the homes of asthmatics. Further investigations are needed to determine how home microbial exposures influence the respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal microbiomes of its inhabitants.