In order to assess the extent by which microbial communities from multiple body sites are linked and related to disease susceptibility, Reyman and Clerc et al. combined 16S-based rRNA sequencing data from 112 healthy, term born infants, spanning three body sites (oral cavity, nasopharynx, gut) over the first six months of life. They demonstrate a strong association between network structure and species and susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, suggesting a crucial role of cross-niche microbial connections in respiratory health.
- Marta Reyman
- Melanie Clerc
- Debby Bogaert