Pulmonary microbiota composition

The pulmonary microbiota composition describes the types and relative abundance of microorganisms inhabiting the lower respiratory tract, particularly the mucous layer and epithelial surfaces of the lungs[1][2][3][4][6][7]. These communities are highly variable between individuals and include core bacterial phyla such as **Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria,** and **Actinobacteria**, with prevalent genera including **Prevotella, Streptococcus, Veillonella, Neisseria, Haemophilus,** and **Fusobacterium**[2][4][6][7]. Fungal (mycobiome) and viral (virome) elements are also present[1][3]. The lung microbiome composition impacts immune tolerance, inflammation, and local homeostasis, and shifts in its composition (dysbiosis) have been linked to progression and severity of diseases such as COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Unlike classical drug targets, pulmonary microbiota composition is a *feature/characteristic* of the tissue microenvironment and not a discrete molecular entity such as an enzyme or receptor; thus, it is not considered a therapeutic target but may serve as a biomarker for health and disease[5][6]. This entry is flagged as incorrect as a “target” since it does not represent a molecule, receptor, enzyme, transporter, or protein but instead the aggregate trait of microbial community structure within the lungs[2][3][4][6][7].

Other names

Lung microbiotaPulmonary microbial communityLung microbiome