Status: Pending
Under normal conditions, the relationship between the nasopharynx microbiota and the host is symbiotic with many physiologic benefits. However, even in healthy individuals potentially pathogenic bacteria can also be found embedded in the community of nasopharynx commensals. At upper respiratory tract level, nasal-associated lymphoid tissue is strategically located to potential respiratory pathogens; in this context, B cell activation induces specific secretory IgA while T cells/ILCs produce cytokines. There is increasing evidence that suggest that the nasopharyngeal microbiome composition plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bacterial and viral acute respiratory tract infections including COVID-19. One factor that has been poorly studied and needs to be integrated in bacterial/viral respiratory infection pathogenesis models is the microbiome. Previously we have established methods to characterize nasopharynx microbiota by 16S rRNA sequencing and assays are in place to analyze secretory antibodies, interferons (IFNs) and cytokines concentrations in nasopharyngeal secretions of healthy individuals and disease patients including COVID-19. We hypothesize that the nasopharynx microbiota at baseline affects the likelihood and density of successful viral/bacterial pathogens colonization. Lastly, our capacity to quantitate antibodies, IFNs and cytokines should allow for the definition of biomarkers in nasopharyngeal secretions that can distinguish clinical outcomes in different diseases. For example, at present there are no biomarkers readily available to the physician at the time of hospital admission that are able to predict the likelihood of disease progression in COVID-19 patients.
Submitted: 2022-12-16 13:05 · Last updated: 2023-02-09 08:29