The role of microbiome in respiratory disease

The development of metagenomics revealed a novel role of microorganism in lots of diseases. Emerging researches at home and abroad illustrated that microbiome changes from nasopharynx, oropharynx and/or lung in quality and/or quantity exist in many respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia as well as upper respiratory infection, which play an important role in immune system, metabolism and neuroregulation. These research results may provide us new strategy for the diagnosis, therapy, surveillance and prognosis of respiratory diseases.(Chin J Lab Med, 2016, 39: 322-325) Key words: Microbiology; Respiratory tract diseases