The Respiratory System Microbiome: Diversity, Function and Health

The study of the respiratory system microbiome is a burgeoning field that has recently garnered significant attention. Historically, the respiratory system was considered a sterile environment, but it is now understood to host a diverse microbiome. This revelation has opened new avenues for research, particularly in understanding the role of these microbial communities in health and disease. Current challenges in this field include differentiating between resident microbiota and transient organisms introduced through inhalation or contamination, identifying the characteristics of a healthy versus pathological microbiome, and developing minimally invasive sampling techniques. Additionally, there is a need to elucidate the relationship between the respiratory microbiome and immune responses, as well as the mechanisms by which microorganisms interact with and potentially exploit the host immune system. Recent studies have highlighted the impact of diseases such as COVID-19 on respiratory microbiome dysbiosis, yet there remains a significant gap in our understanding of the microbiome in healthy respiratory tissues.

This research topic aims to explore the diversity, function, and health implications of the respiratory system microbiome. The primary objectives include addressing key questions such as: What constitutes a healthy respiratory microbiome? How do diseases like COVID-19 alter this microbiome? What are the mechanisms through which the respiratory microbiome influences immune responses? By investigating these questions, the research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the respiratory microbiome's role in health and disease, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.

To gather further insights into the respiratory system microbiome, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Approaches to improve characterization and understanding of the respiratory system microbiome.
- The respiratory system microbiome and health (human or animal), including longitudinal studies to understand microbial turnover versus long-term microbial residents.
- The consequences of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Valley fever, and bacterial or fungal pneumonia in disrupting the normal respiratory system microbiome.
- Shifts in microbial communities due to lung cancer including putative biomarkers for diagnostics.
- The importance of respiratory pathogens and host spillover.
- Studies of the respiratory system immune response to bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the context of the respiratory system microbiome.
- Factors that affect the transition of respiratory system commensals (e.g., species of Pneumocystis, Candida and Streptococcus) to pathogenic states