Microbiota Interactions and Lung Health

The respiratory tract and gastrointestinal system harbour complex microbial ecosystems that shape host immunity and influence lung health throughout life. Interactions among bacterial, viral and fungal communities at mucosal surfaces modulate alveolar macrophage maturation, epithelial barrier function and systemic inflammatory tone. Cross-talk between gut and lung via microbial metabolites, immune cell trafficking and neural pathways underpins susceptibility to viral infections, secondary bacterial pneumonia and chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dysbiosis of these communities—incited by antibiotics, diet or infection—can disrupt immune homeostasis, exacerbate airway inflammation and impair tissue repair. Conversely, targeted manipulation of the microbiota through probiotics, dietary fibre or metabolite supplementation offers innovative strategies for enhancing vaccine efficacy, reducing exacerbations and identifying biomarkers of disease progression. Recent advances in metagenomics and metabolomics have begun to unravel microbial networks and host signalling axes, informing precision therapies with global implications for antibiotic stewardship, nutritional policy and the management of respiratory epidemics.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have shown that microbiota-derived acetate enhances host antiviral defence by engaging the NLRP3 inflammasome and GPR43 receptor, thereby amplifying type I interferon responses and limiting viral replication in the respiratory tract. In a separate investigation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, distinct alterations in the faecal microbiome and metabolome were correlated with reduced lung function. Disrupted bacterial taxa and shifts in lipid and amino acid metabolites outlined a disease-associated network that offers potential biomarkers and insights into gut-driven modulation of pulmonary inflammation.

Microbiota Interactions and Lung Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microbiota interactions and lung health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Gut–lung axis: Bidirectional communication between intestinal microbiota and respiratory immunity mediated by metabolites, immune cells and microbial translocation.

Dysbiosis: Disruption of microbial community structure that leads to imbalance in host–microbe interactions.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): Microbial metabolites such as acetate and propionate that regulate immune responses and epithelial integrity.

NLRP3 inflammasome: Multiprotein complex in innate immune cells that triggers cytokine release and pyroptosis upon sensing microbial metabolites or stress signals.

GPR43 receptor: G protein-coupled receptor for SCFAs that modulates inflammatory pathways and interferon production in epithelial cells.

References

1. Microbiota-derived acetate enhances host antiviral response via NLRP3. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Symbiotic Firmicutes establish mutualism with the host via innate tolerance and resistance to control systemic immunity. Cell Host & Microbe (2023).
3. Systemic antibiotics cause deterioration of emphysema associated with exaggerated inflammation and autophagy. Experimental & Molecular Medicine (2023).
4. Newly isolated Lactobacillus paracasei strain modulates lung immunity and improves the capacity to cope with influenza virus infection. Microbiome (2023).
5. Disease-associated gut microbiome and metabolome changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nature Communications (2020).