Exploring Interaction Networks of Indoor Environmental Microbiome and Mycobiome in Asthmatic and Healthy Subjects: Insights from the COBRA-ENV 2 Study
Abstract
Background
The relationship between bacterial and fungal environmental exposures and asthma has been extensively researched. However, these communities are often studied separately in the literature. Network analysis offers a means to explore the interactions between bacterial and fungal communities, providing insight into the complex organization of microbial communities in disease.
Objective
This study aimed to investigate differences in indoor microbiome interaction networks between individuals with asthma and healthy controls, while adjusting for demographic and environmental factors.
Methods
We enrolled 43 asthma patients from the national Cohort of Bronchial Obstruction and Asthma (COBRA) cohort and 20 controls (healthy individuals living in non-asthmatic, non-respiratory allergic households). We analyzed indoor microbial flora using electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs) under standardized conditions. Amplicon targeted metagenomics was employed to compare microbial communities from EDC samples. Additionally, demographic (sex, age, municipality) and environmental characteristics (rural/urban residence, humidity, coastal wetland proximity, pollen index, air quality) were collected. Interaction networks were inferred for bacterial and fungal relative abundances in cases and controls, while considering significant demographic and environmental factors.
Results
The abundances of bacterial genera and fungal species were studied for both cases and controls. Age and rural/urban residence showed significant associations with alpha-diversity. Patients with asthma demonstrated reduced interactions both within and between kingdoms compared to controls.
Conclusion
Our findings underscore the importance of understanding the interactions between indoor microbiome, mycobiome, and host in asthma pathogenesis.
The relationship between bacterial and fungal environmental exposures and asthma has been extensively researched. However, these communities are often studied separately in the literature. Network analysis offers a means to explore the interactions between bacterial and fungal communities, providing insight into the complex organization of microbial communities in disease.
Objective
This study aimed to investigate differences in indoor microbiome interaction networks between individuals with asthma and healthy controls, while adjusting for demographic and environmental factors.
Methods
We enrolled 43 asthma patients from the national Cohort of Bronchial Obstruction and Asthma (COBRA) cohort and 20 controls (healthy individuals living in non-asthmatic, non-respiratory allergic households). We analyzed indoor microbial flora using electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs) under standardized conditions. Amplicon targeted metagenomics was employed to compare microbial communities from EDC samples. Additionally, demographic (sex, age, municipality) and environmental characteristics (rural/urban residence, humidity, coastal wetland proximity, pollen index, air quality) were collected. Interaction networks were inferred for bacterial and fungal relative abundances in cases and controls, while considering significant demographic and environmental factors.
Results
The abundances of bacterial genera and fungal species were studied for both cases and controls. Age and rural/urban residence showed significant associations with alpha-diversity. Patients with asthma demonstrated reduced interactions both within and between kingdoms compared to controls.
Conclusion
Our findings underscore the importance of understanding the interactions between indoor microbiome, mycobiome, and host in asthma pathogenesis.
| Origin | Files produced by the author(s) |
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