Gut microbiome a promising target for management of respiratory diseases

Abstract

The intestinal microbial flora has risen to be one of the important etiological factors in the development of diseases like colorectal cancer, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, anxiety and Parkinson's. The emergence of the association between bacterial flora and lungs led to the discovery of the gut–lung axis. Dysbiosis of several species of colonic bacteria such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and transfer of these bacteria from gut to lungs via lymphatic and systemic circulation are associated with several respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, etc. Current therapies for dysbiosis include use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics to restore the balance between various species of beneficial bacteria. Various approaches like nanotechnology and microencapsulation have been explored to increase the permeability and viability of probiotics in the body. The need of the day is comprehensive study of mechanisms behind dysbiosis, translocation of microbiota from gut to lung through various channels and new technology for evaluating treatment to correct this dysbiosis which in turn can be used to manage various respiratory diseases. Microfluidics and organ on chip model are emerging technologies that can satisfy these needs. This review gives an overview of colonic commensals in lung pathology and novel systems that help in alleviating symptoms of lung diseases. We have also hypothesized new models to help in understanding bacterial pathways involved in the gut–lung axis as well as act as a futuristic approach in finding treatment of respiratory diseases caused by dysbiosis.

Pulmonary microbiome and gene expression signatures differentiate lung function in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant candidates

“…For example, detection of Staphyloccocus overgrowth in the nose and lungs and Haemophilus depletion in the oropharynx and lungs would provide more direct evidence for the assertion that the supraglottic microbiome protects the lungs from nasal, skin, and environmental microbes. In addition, strategies to characterize gut-lung cross-talk may further elucidate factors influencing the pulmonary microbiome ( 33 , 34 ). Ultimately, strategies to modulate the lung microbiome to improve pulmonary health remain in development and include investigation of both ingested and inhaled probiotics and other microbial metabolites ( 35 , 36 ).…”

Association Between Pneumonia and Chronic Otitis Media: A Nested Case-Control Study Using a National Health Screening Cohort

“…Several studies have reported that alteration of the gut or fecal microbiome is prominent not only when a single antibiotic is used but also when a combination therapy is used such as gentamicin-ampicillin and ciprofloxacinmetronidazole (Ferrer et al, 2014, Heinsen et al, 2015, Koido et al, 2014. Thus, antibiotic treatment for pneumonia can affect the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiome, and dysbiosis of the colonic microbiome influencing disparate sites via the gut-respiratory tract axis through lymphatic and systemic circulation may impact secondary tissue and immune homeostasis of the airway (Schuijt et al, 2016, Trivedi andBarve, 2020). This phenomenon can serve as microbiological evidence that can be associated with the development of diseases such as COM and chronic rhinosinusitis after pneumonia.…”

The Beneficial Role of Probiotic Lactobacillus in Respiratory Diseases

“…There may be two main routes for transfer of intestinal bacteria to the lung tissue: the first is intestinal bacteria or bacterial components enter into the circulation through the mesenteric lymphatic system and then reach the lung tissue ( 162 – 164 ); the second is the migration of intestinal bacteria or bacterial components to the lung tissue through microbreathing and oropharyngeal reflux ( 165 , 166 ). Therefore, Lactobacillus or components of Lactobacillus in the intestine may be directly transferred to lung tissue and thus modulate lung immunity.…”