Modulation Of Microbiome Research Articles

Plant microbiome technology for sustainable agriculture

Plants establish specific interactions with microorganisms, which are vital for promoting growth and resilience. Although advancements in microbiome modulation technologies show great potential for sustainable agriculture, several challenges have hindered the wider application of plant microbiomes in the field. These challenges may include inconsistent microbial colonization, competition with native microbiota, and environmental variability. Current strategies, while promising, often yield inconsistent results in real-world agricultural settings, highlighting the need for more refined approaches. Agricultural practices and plant genotypes significantly influence the composition and function of plant-associated microbiota. A data-driven strategy that incorporates genomic profiling, environmental assessments, and optimized delivery systems is essential for selecting effective microbial strains. Additionally, refining farming practices, such as crop rotation, intercropping, and reduced tillage, along with robust plant breeding programs, can greatly enhance crop health and productivity.

Unravelling the Role of Chitin and Chitosan in Prebiotic Activity and Correlation With Cancer: A Narrative Review.

This review describes the state of the art regarding the prebiotic role of chitin and the interactions of chitin and chitosan with cancer cells. Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature and a constitutive component of crustacean shells and the exoskeleton of insects. Chitosan is the deacetylated form of chitin, which is obtained by chemical processing or the enzymatic activity of deacetylases found in microorganisms and insects. Edible insects have recently been introduced in Western countries, thus raising concerns regarding food safety and due to their chitin content and the release of chitosan during the digestive process. The roles of insect chitin and chitosan in the gastrointestinal tract, microbiome modulation, and cancer have been widely investigated. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the possible microbiota modulation of chitin and its relevant communication with the immune system, thus confirming its prebiotic activity. No evidence has been provided on the cancerogenic activity of chitin; however, studies have suggested that chitin has a cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines. Chitosan has been confirmed to exhibit apoptotic and cytotoxic activities on cancer cells in several in vitro studies on cancer cell lines and in vivo models. In conclusion, the literature does not show a direct connection between the presence of chitin or chitosan and the onset of cancer. However, cytotoxic and apoptotic activities in relation to cancerous lines have been demonstrated.

How Do Cyclodextrins and Dextrans Affect the Gut Microbiome? Review of Prebiotic Activity

The modulation of the gut microbiome through dietary components has garnered significant attention for its potential health benefits. Prebiotics, non-digestible food ingredients that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, play a crucial role in maintaining gut health, enhancing immune function, and potentially preventing various metabolic and inflammatory disorders. This review explores the prebiotic activity of cyclodextrins and dextrans, focusing on their ability to influence gut microbiota composition and function. Both cyclodextrins and dextrans have demonstrated the capacity to promote the growth of beneficial bacterial populations, while also impacting short-chain fatty acid production, crucial for gut health.

The gut microbiome is associated with susceptibility to febrile malaria in Malian children

Malaria is a major public health problem, but many of the factors underlying the pathogenesis of this disease are not well understood, including protection from the development of febrile symptoms, which is observed in individuals residing in areas with moderate-to-high transmission by early adolescence. Here, we demonstrate that susceptibility to febrile malaria following Plasmodium falciparum infection is associated with the composition of the gut microbiome prior to the malaria season in 10-year-old Malian children, but not in younger children. Gnotobiotic mice colonized with the fecal samples of malaria-susceptible children were shown to have a significantly higher parasite burden following Plasmodium infection compared to gnotobiotic mice colonized with the fecal samples of malaria-resistant children. The fecal microbiome of the susceptible children was determined to be enriched for bacteria associated with inflammation, mucin degradation and gut permeability, and to have increased levels of nitric oxide-derived DNA adducts and lower levels of mucus phospholipids compared to the resistant children. Overall, these results indicate that the composition of the gut microbiome is associated with the prospective risk of febrile malaria in Malian children and suggest that modulation of the gut microbiome could decrease malaria morbidity in endemic areas.

A Pharmacokinetic and Bioavailability Study of Ecklonia cava Phlorotannins Following Intravenous and Oral Administration in Sprague–Dawley Rats

This study examines the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of phlorotannins from Ecklonia cava in rats following intravenous and oral administration. Known for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and many other bioactivities, these phlorotannins, particularly dieckol, 8,8′-bieckol, and phlorofucofuroeckol-A (PFF-A), were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Intravenous administration at 10 mg/kg allowed detectability in plasma for up to 36 h for dieckol and 8,8′-bieckol, but only 2 h for PFF-A. Oral administration at doses of 100 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg showed limited detectability, indicating low bioavailability and rapid clearance, particularly for PFF-A. The pharmacokinetic data suggest non-linear increases in the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) with increasing doses, pointing to significant challenges in achieving systemic availability of these eckols through oral administration. This study underscores the necessity for advanced formulation strategies and alternative routes of administration to enhance systemic bioavailability. At the same time, this result also suggests their effects may be through non-systemic pathways such as gut microbiome modulation or lipid-rich tissue targeting. The findings lay a crucial foundation for the further development of Ecklonia cava phlorotannins as therapeutic agents, offering insights into their pharmacokinetic behavior and informing enhancements in future clinical utility.

Stage dependent microbial dynamics in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent normal liver tissues

The interactive pathway of the gut-liver axis underscores the significance of microbiome modulation in the pathogenesis and progression of various liver diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to investigate the disparities in the composition and functionality of the hepatic microbiota between tumor tissues and adjacent normal liver tissues, and their implications in the etiology of HCC. We conducted a comparative analysis of the hepatic microbiome between adjacent normal liver tissues and tumor tissues from HCC patients. Samples were categorized according to the modified Union for International Cancer Control (mUICC) staging system into Non-tumor, mUICC stage I, mUICC stage II, and mUICC stage III groups. Microbial richness and community composition were analyzed, and phylogenetic profiles were examined to identify significantly altered microbial taxa among the groups. Predicted metabolic pathways were analyzed using PICRUSt2. Our analysis did not reveal significant differences in microbial richness and community composition with the development of HCC. However, phylogenetic profiling identified significantly altered microbial taxa among the groups. Sphingobium, known for degrading polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), exhibited a significantly negative correlation with clinical indices in HCC patients. Conversely, Sphingomonas, a gut bacterium associated with various liver diseases, showed a positive correlation. Predicted metabolic pathways suggested a correlation between atrazine degradation and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis with mUICC stage and tumor size. Our results underscore the critical link between hepatic microbial composition and function and the HCC tumor stage, suggesting a potentially pivotal role in the development of HCC. These findings highlight the importance of targeting the hepatic microbiome for therapeutic strategies in HCC.

Impact of Exogenous Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on the Gut Microbiome of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients Colonized by Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: An Observational Study

Background: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum can inhibit the growth of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and modulate the gut microbiome. However, data on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are scarce. Aim: In an observational study, we assessed the impact of L. plantarum on the modulation of the gut microbiome in HSCT patients colonized by MDROs. Methods: Participants were allocated to an intervention group (IG = 22) who received capsules of L. plantarum (5 × 109 CFU) twice per day until the onset of neutropenia or a control group (CG = 20). The V4 region of the 16S bacterial rRNA gene was sequenced in 87 stool samples from a subset of 33 patients (IG = 20 and CG = 13). The Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) program was used to predict metagenome functions. Results: L. plantarum demonstrated an average 86% (±11%) drug-target engagement at 43 (±29) days of consumption and was deemed safe, well-tolerated, and associated with an increase in the abundance of the Lactobacillales (p < 0.05). A significant increase in Lactococcus and a reduction in Turicibacter (p < 0.05) were identified on the second week of L. plantarum use. Although Enterococcus abundance had a greater rise in the CG (p = 0.07), there were no significant differences concerning the Gram-negative MDROs. No serious adverse effects were reported in the IG. We observed a greater, non-significant pyruvate fermentation to propanoate I (p = 0.193) relative abundance in the IG compared with the CG. L. plantarum use was safe and tolerable by HSCT patients. Conclusions: While L. plantarum is safe and may impact Enterococcus and Turicibacter abundance, it showed no impact on Gram-negative MDRO abundance in HSCT patients.

Lactobacillaceae differentially impact butyrate-producing gut microbiota to drive CNS autoimmunity

ABSTRACT Background Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by the gut microbiota, are thought to exert an anti-inflammatory effect on the host immune system. The levels of SCFAs and abundance of the microbiota that produce them are depleted in multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The mechanisms leading to this depletion are unknown. Using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model for MS, we have previously shown that gut microbiomes divergent in their abundance of specific commensal Lactobacillaceae, Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) and Ligilactobacillus murinus (L. murinus), differentially impact CNS autoimmunity. To determine the underlying mechanisms, we employed colonization by L. reuteri and L. murinus in disparate gut microbiome configurations in vivo and in vitro, profiling their impact on gut microbiome composition and metabolism, coupled with modulation of dietary fiber in the EAE model. Results We show that stable colonization by L. reuteri, but not L. murinus, exacerbates EAE, in conjunction with a significant remodeling of gut microbiome composition, depleting SCFA-producing microbiota, including Lachnospiraceae, Prevotellaceae, and Bifidobacterium, with a net decrease in bacterial metabolic pathways involved in butyrate production. In a minimal microbiome culture model in vitro, L. reuteri directly inhibited SCFA-producer growth and depleted butyrate. Genomic analysis of L. reuteri isolates revealed an enrichment in bacteriocins with known antimicrobial activity against SCFA-producing microbiota. Functionally, provision of excess dietary fiber, as the prebiotic substrate for SCFA production, elevated SCFA levels and abrogated the ability of L. reuteri to exacerbate EAE. Conclustions Our data highlight a potential mechanism for reduced SCFAs and their producers in MS through depletion by other members of the gut microbiome, demonstrating that interactions between microbiota can impact CNS autoimmunity in a diet-dependent manner. These data suggest that therapeutic restoration of SCFA levels in MS may require not only dietary intervention, but also modulation of the gut microbiome.

Metformin: Diverse molecular mechanisms, gastrointestinal effects and overcoming intolerance in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A review.

Metformin, the first line treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, has alternative novel roles, including cancer and diabetes prevention. This narrative review aims to explore its diverse mechanisms, effects and intolerance, using sources obtained by searching Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases, and following Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles reporting guidelines. Metformin exerts it actions through duration influenced, and organ specific, diverse mechanisms. Its use is associated with inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis targeted by mitochondria and lysosomes, reduction of cholesterol levels involving brown adipose tissue, weight reduction influenced by growth differentiation factor 15 and novel commensal bacteria, in addition to counteraction of meta-inflammation alongside immuno-modulation. Interactions with the gastrointestinal tract include alteration of gut microbiota, enhancement of glucose uptake and glucagon like peptide 1 and reduction of bile acid absorption. Though beneficial, they may be linked to intolerance. Metformin related gastrointestinal adverse effects are associated with dose escalation, immediate release formulations, gut microbiota alteration, epigenetic predisposition, inhibition of organic cation transporters in addition to interactions with serotonin, histamine and the enterohepatic circulation. Potentially effective measures to overcome intolerance encompasses carefully objective targeted dose escalation, prescription of fixed dose combination, microbiome modulators and prebiotics, in addition to use of extended release formulations.

Modulation of gut microbiome in response to the combination of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 and sugars: a pilot study using host-free system reflecting impact on interpersonal microbiome.

The differential effects of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic formulations on human health are dictated by the inter-individual gut microbial profile. The effects of probiotics such as Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (ECN) on gut microbiota may vary according to the microbiome profiles of individuals and may be influenced by the presence of certain carbohydrates, which can impact microbial community structure and treatment results. Processed fecal samples from donors having contrasting lifestyles, dietary patterns, and disease histories were mixed with 5 × 106 CFU/mL ECN with or without 1% (w/v) sugars (glucose, galactose, or rice starch) in a host-free system. Post-incubation, 16 s rRNA sequencing was performed. Microbial diversity and taxonomic abundance were computed in relation to the probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic treatment effects and interpersonal microbiome variance. Baseline gut microbial profiles showed significant inter-individual variations. ECN treatment alone had a limited impact on the inter-personal gut microbial diversity and abundance. Prebiotics caused a substantial enrichment in Actinobacteria, but there were differences in the responses at the order and genus levels, with enrichment shown in Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and Megasphaera. Subject B exhibited enrichment in Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria, but subject A showed more diversified taxonomic alterations as a consequence of the synbiotic treatments. Despite negligible difference in the α-diversity, probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic treatments independently resulted in distinct segregation in microbial communities at the β-diversity level. The core microbiota was altered only under prebiotic and synbiotic treatment. Significant correlations primarily for minor phyla were identified under prebiotic and synbiotic treatment. The interindividual microbiome composition strongly influences the effectiveness of personalized diet and treatment plans. The responsiveness to dietary strategies varies according to individual microbiome profiles influenced by health, diet, and lifestyle. Therefore, tailored approaches that consider individual microbiome compositions are crucial for maximizing gut health and treatment results.

The paradox of Helicobacter pylori: How does H. pylori infection protect against esophageal cancer?

Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic gram-negative bacterium infecting around half of the world’s population. Despite its well-known role in gastric malignancies, its impact on esophageal cancer comes with a complex paradox. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain its observed lack of carcinogenic activity in the esophagus, including the trigger of anti-inflammatory pathways, promoting atrophic gastritis, and esophageal microbiome modulation. However, recent studies have highlighted a significantly more complicated interplay, where H. pylori, typically considered a pathogen, may even deliver a protective effect against esophageal carcinogenesis. This paper aims to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection among patients with esophageal carcinoma, discussing the underlying mechanisms of the paradoxical effects of H. pylori on esophageal cancer.

Probiotics as adjuvants to mitigate adverse reactions and enhance effectiveness in Food Allergy Immunotherapy.

In the past decades, food allergies became increasingly dominant since early childhood, leading to a lower quality of life and to increasing costs addressed by the health care system. Beside standard avoidance of specific allergens and drug treatments following allergen exposure, a great deal of research has lately focused on Food Allergy Allergen Immunotherapy (FA-AIT). SCIT and EPIT (Subcutaneous and Epicutaneous Immunotherapy), OIT (Oral Immunotherapy), and SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) consist in gradual exposure to allergens to desensitize and achieve tolerance once therapy has ended. Although promising, FA-AIT may bring acute local and systemic adverse reactions. To enhance efficacy, safety and convenience of AIT, the quest of potential adjuvants to mitigate the adverse reactions becomes crucial. Immunomodulatory activities, such as that of increasing the regulatory T cells and decreasing the IgE, have been observed in specific probiotics' strains and multiple studies elucidated the role of gut microbiota as a major interplayer among the host and its immune system. In this review, the microbiome modulation is shown as potential AIT adjuvant, nevertheless the need of more clinical studies in the near future is pivotal to assess the efficacy of targeted bacterial therapies and faecal microbiota transplantation.

Microbes as medicine.

Over the last two decades, advancements in sequencing technologies have significantly deepened our understanding of the human microbiome's complexity, leading to increased concerns about the detrimental effects of antibiotics on these intricate microbial ecosystems. Concurrently, the rise in antimicrobial resistance has intensified the focus on how beneficial microbes can be harnessed to treat diseases and improve health and offer potentially promising alternatives to traditional antibiotic treatments. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of both established and emerging microbe-centric therapies, from probiotics to advanced microbial ecosystem therapeutics, examine the sophisticated ways in which microbes are used medicinally, and consider their impacts on microbiome homeostasis and health outcomes through a microbial ecology lens. In addition, we explore the concept of rewilding the human microbiome by reintroducing "missing microbes" from nonindustrialized societies and personalizing microbiome modulation to fit individual microbial profiles-highlighting several promising directions for future research. Ultimately, the advancements in sequencing technologies combined with innovative microbial therapies and personalized approaches herald a new era in medicine poised to address antibiotic resistance and improve health outcomes through targeted microbiome management.

Exploring miRNA therapies and gut microbiome-enhanced CAR-T cells: advancing frontiers in glioblastoma stem cell targeting.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) presents a formidable challenge in oncology due to its aggressive nature and resistance to conventional treatments. Recent advancements propose a novel therapeutic strategy combining microRNA-based therapies, chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells, and gut microbiome modulation to target GBM stem cells and transform cancer treatment. MicroRNA therapies show promise in regulating key signalling pathways implicated in GBM progression, offering the potential to disrupt GBM stem cell renewal. CAR-T cell therapy, initially successful in blood cancers, is being adapted to target GBM by genetically engineering T cells to recognise and eliminate GBM stem cell-specific antigens. Despite early successes, challenges like the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment persist. Additionally, recent research has uncovered a link between the gut microbiome and GBM, suggesting that gut dysbiosis can influence systemic inflammation and immune responses. Novel strategies to modulate the gut microbiome are emerging, enhancing the efficacy of microRNA therapies and CAR-T cell treatments. This combined approach highlights the synergistic potential of these innovative therapies in GBM treatment, aiming to eradicate primary tumours and prevent recurrence, thereby improving patient prognosis and quality of life. Ongoing research and clinical trials are crucial to fully exploit this promising frontier in GBM therapy, offering hope to patients grappling with this devastating disease.

Association between Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) Fish Phenotype and the Post-Larval Bacteriome.

Over the past decade, an increasing number of studies have emphasized the importance of the host microbiome in influencing organismal health and development. Aligned with this understanding, our study aimed to investigate the potential association between the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) phenotypic traits and the post-larval bacteriome. Turbot post-larvae were sampled from twenty randomly selected production cycles thirty days after hatching (DAH) across multiple post-larval production batches over a three-month period (April to June). Fish were selectively sampled based on five phenotypic traits, namely, normal, large, small, malformed, and depigmented. Our results showed that small-sized post-larvae had significantly higher bacterial phylogenetic diversity in their bacterial communities than all other phenotypes. A more in-depth compositional analysis also revealed specific associations between certain bacterial taxa and fish phenotypes. For example, the genera Aliivibrio and Sulfitobacter were enriched in small-sized post-larvae, while the family Micrococcaceae were predominantly found in larger post-larvae. Furthermore, genus Exiguobacterium was linked to depigmented larvae, and genus Pantoea was more prevalent in normal post-larvae. These observations underscore the importance of further research to understand the roles of these bacterial taxa in larval growth and phenotypic differentiation. Such insights could contribute to developing microbiome modulation strategies, which may enhance turbot post-larval health and quality and improve larviculture production.

The Contribution of the Skin Microbiome to Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Its Implications for Therapeutic Strategies.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, associated with significant morbidity and a considerable negative impact on the patients' quality of life. The complex pathogenesis of psoriasis is still incompletely understood. Genetic predisposition, environmental factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, psychological stress, consumption of certain drugs, and mechanical trauma, as well as specific immune dysfunctions, contribute to the onset of the disease. Mounting evidence indicate that skin dysbiosis plays a significant role in the development and exacerbation of psoriasis through loss of immune tolerance to commensal skin flora, an altered balance between Tregs and effector cells, and an excessive Th1 and Th17 polarization. While the implications of skin dysbiosis in psoriasis pathogenesis are only starting to be revealed, the progress in the characterization of the skin microbiome changes in psoriasis patients has opened a whole new avenue of research focusing on the modulation of the skin microbiome as an adjuvant treatment for psoriasis and as part of a long-term plan to prevent disease flares. The skin microbiome may also represent a valuable predictive marker of treatment response and may aid in the selection of the optimal personalized treatment. We present the current knowledge on the skin microbiome changes in psoriasis and the results of the studies that investigated the efficacy of the different skin microbiome modulation strategies in the management of psoriasis, and discuss the complex interaction between the host and skin commensal flora.

MNAM enhances Blautia abundance and modulates Th17/Treg balance to alleviate diabetes in T2DM mice

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of N1-Methylnicotinamide (MNAM), a metabolic derivative, on T2DM mice induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ), focusing on its impact on the gut microbiome and immune modulation. MNAM significantly reduced hyperglycemia and enhanced insulin secretion, effects that were dependent on the presence of gut microbiota. It also mitigated STZ-induced weight loss and improved islet cell morphology, reducing islet cell mortality and increasing insulin (INS) levels. Flow cytometry analysis showed a decrease in T helper 17 cells (Th17) and an increase in Treg cells after MNAM treatment, corresponding to the upregulation of Treg markers [interleukin (IL)-10, forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)] and downregulation of Th17 markers [IL17A, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt)]. Additionally, MNAM raised anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels while reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines [IL-17α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), IL-6]. Microbiome analysis revealed decreased diversity and increased Blautia abundance post-MNAM administration. Treatment with Blautia not only reversed diabetes indicators but also modulated the Th17/Treg balance and reduced inflammation, with its metabolite sodium acetate mimicking these effects through the G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) pathway. These findings suggest that MNAM’s mitigation of diabetes operates through modulation of the gut microbiota and immune regulation, highlighting Blautia and its metabolite as potential therapeutic agents and providing a theoretical foundation for novel treatment strategies in T2DM.

Dietary protein intake and the tubular handling of indoxyl sulfate.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are advised to limit their protein intake. A high protein diet is known to induce glomerular hyperfiltration, as well as hypertrophy of the remnant kidney, and glomerulosclerosis. Whether the diet causes changes in kidney tubule transport via gut microbiome metabolites is still unknown. We hypothesized that protein intake affects not only the intestinal generation and absorption, but also the kidney disposal of microbial amino acid metabolites. We combined data from animal models and human studies. 5/6th nephrectomy rats were administered a high (HP) or low-protein (LP) diet for 7 weeks. Plasma and urine concentration of the uremic toxins (UTs) indoxyl sulfate (IS), p-cresyl sulfate (PCS), and p-cresyl glucuronide (PCG) were measured. Their fractional excretion (FE) was calculated. The expression of kidney membrane transporters OAT1, OAT3, BCRP, OCT2 and MRP4 was analyzed. Differences in FE of UTs between individuals with higher and lower protein intake in two CKD cohorts were sought. CKD rats on an HP diet showed increased plasma levels of PCS and PCG but not IS compared to rats on a LP diet. Conversely, urinary excretion and FE of IS were higher in the HP CKD group. BCRP, MRP4 and OCT2 were not influenced by the diet. OAT1 and OAT3 were upregulated in the HP CKD group. In two independent cohorts of CKD patients, individuals with a high dietary protein intake showed a significantly higher FE of IS. A HP diet leads to a higher generation and/or absorption of aminoacid-derived UT precursors in CKD rodent models and humans, most likely via gut microbiome modulation. We demonstrate that dietary protein intake modulates transcription and expression of OAT1 and OAT3, corroborating the existence of the remote sensing and signaling hypothesis. Dietary protein intake influences kidney physiology beyond glomerular filtration.

Oral Cavity Microbiome Impact on Respiratory Infections Among Children.

The respiratory system, traditionally considered antiseptic, harbors a diverse and dynamic bacterial microbiome. Recent advancements in microbiome research have revealed its significant influence on both innate and adaptive immunity, particularly in the context of respiratory infections in children. This article also provides an overview of the types of bacteria that commonly affect the respiratory system, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae. These bacteria are prevalent in pediatric populations and significantly contribute to the development and severity of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). This review aims to evaluate the impact of the oral cavity and upper respiratory microbiome on the susceptibility and severity of respiratory infections in pediatric populations. We specifically focus on how early colonization patterns of bacteria such as Moraxella and Streptococcus contribute to the development of respiratory tract infections in children from birth through adolescence. A thorough literature review was performed, focusing on studies publishing between 2004 and 2023. The review included research exploring the role of the upper respiratory microbiome in pediatric populations, with a specific focus on children aged birth to 18 years. Emphasis was placed on microbial characterization, the modulation of immune responses in respiratory tract infections, and the potential therapeutic applications of microbiome-targeted interventions. The findings suggest that the composition and disruption of the upper respiratory microbiome significantly influence clinical outcomes in children with respiratory infections. Notably, dysbiosis in the microbiome has been linked to increased susceptibility to repeated infections, highlighting the importance of maintaining microbial balance for optimal respiratory health. Understanding the impact of oral cavity and upper respiratory microbiome could lead to improved management and prevention strategies for respiratory infections in children. This review underscores the potential of microbiome modulation, including the use of probiotics as a therapeutic approach to enhance clinical outcomes in pediatric respiratory infections.

Tackling food allergies by microbiome modulation.

Tackling food allergies by microbiome modulation.