Oropharyngeal microbiota

The **oropharyngeal microbiota** refers to the collective community of microorganisms—including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea—residing in the oropharynx and upper respiratory tract. This complex ecosystem is essential for local immune homeostasis, mucosal protection, and resistance to pathogen colonization[1][5][7]. Compositional stability is maintained by interactions among microbes and with the host immune system; disturbances in this balance (dysbiosis) have been linked to increased susceptibility to respiratory infections (such as COVID-19), local and systemic inflammation, periodontal disease, and oral as well as oropharyngeal cancers[1][2][3][7][8]. Recent studies indicate that specific microbial taxa or overall microbiome patterns can act as biomarkers for disease susceptibility and severity, highlighting the diagnostic and prognostic potential of the oropharyngeal microbiome—but **not as a singular druggable molecular target** in the conventional sense[2][6][8]. There are currently no specific drugs directly targeting the oropharyngeal microbiota, though antimicrobials, probiotics, and oral hygiene interventions can influence its composition.

Other names

Oral microbiomePharyngeal microbiotaOral microbial communityUpper respiratory tract microbiota