The Sinonasal Cavity as a Reservoir for Upper Airway Bacterial Development

Description

While the maternal-newborn exchange of airway microbiota is well-documented, no studies have examined within-subject relationships among the mouth, sinuses, nasopharynx and lungs and the relative abundance of bacterial taxa at those sites. Recent evidence suggests the oral cavity may serve as a reservoir for pathogens that translocate to non-oral locations; oral-associated microbes infect most other body sites as evidence by 16S sequencing. By using a combination of oral and throat swabs, together with nasal suction of mucus samples, the investigators will use metagenomic sequencing to characterize the composition of bacterial communities at each anatomical site. Beginning at birth, a time-series of swabs will be collected from each subject, and monitor changes in the development of microbiota over time. By doing so, our studies will illuminate airway trafficking of both beneficial and pathogenic microbes and may represent an essential pathophysiological step towards shifting the balance between airway health and disease.

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

While the maternal-newborn exchange of airway microbiota is well-documented, no studies have examined within-subject relationships among the mouth, sinuses, nasopharynx and lungs and the relative abundance of bacterial taxa at those sites. Recent evidence suggests the oral cavity may serve as a reservoir for pathogens that translocate to non-oral locations; oral-associated microbes infect most other body sites as evidence by 16S sequencing. By using a combination of oral and throat swabs, together with nasal suction of mucus samples, the investigators will use metagenomic sequencing to characterize the composition of bacterial communities at each anatomical site. Beginning at birth, a time-series of swabs will be collected from each subject, and monitor changes in the development of microbiota over time. By doing so, our studies will illuminate airway trafficking of both beneficial and pathogenic microbes and may represent an essential pathophysiological step towards shifting the balance between airway health and disease.

The Sinonasal Cavity as a Reservoir for Upper Airway Bacterial Development

The Sinonasal Cavity as a Reservoir for Upper Airway Bacterial Development

Condition
Cystic Fibrosis
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Minneapolis

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Diagnosis of CF by sweat chloride test \>60 mEq/L or by presence of two known CF genetic mutations
  • * Age 0-3 years
  • * Willingness to comply with study procedures
  • * Willingness of parent/guardian to provide written consent.

Ages Eligible for Study

7 Days to 3 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Minnesota,

Ryan Hunter, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Minnesota

Study Record Dates

2026-01-01