Upper and lower airway microbiota across infancy and childhood

• DOI: 10.1038/s41390-025-03942-0
• Publication Date: 2025-03-12T15:56:33Z
• Authors: Ariel J. Hernande...; Anne L. Rosen; Christopher P. To...; Elaina E. Lin; Elikplim H. Akaho; Allison M. Blatz; William R. Otto; Joey Logan; Lisa R. Young; Rebecca M. Harris; Samantha A. White...; Andrew L. Kau; Audrey R. Odom John
• Keywords: Respiratory tract

Abstract Background The upper and lower respiratory tracts feature distinct environments responses affecting microbial colonization but investigating the relationship between them is technically challenging. We aimed to identify relationships taxa colonizing nasopharynx trachea across childhood. Methods employed V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing profile nasopharyngeal swabs tracheal aspirates collected from 172 subjects 20 weeks 18 years of age. These samples were prior elective procedures over course in 2020 enrolled a cross-sectional study. After extraction, sequencing, quality control, we studied remaining 147 95 aspirates, including 80 subject-matched pairs samples. Results Sequencing data revealed that colonized by few, often highly abundant taxa, while greater diversity. patterns identified correlate with subject age Conclusion Our suggests there are relatively few species colonize both tract trachea. Furthermore, observe pattern change microbiota correlated age, suggesting possible developmental progression Impact airway childhood plays important roles health immune development. In this work, report on paired swab aspirate cohort children infancy years. find unlikely share do not terms show composition strongly stereotypic trajectory during adolescence. results inform our understanding assembly may be used predict disease young children.