The nasal microbiome mirrors and potentially shapes olfactory function

Is Nasal Dysbiosis a Required Component for Neuroinflammation in Major Depressive Disorder?

Human microbiota is known to influence immune and cerebral responses by direct and/or indirect mechanisms, including hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis signaling, activation of neural afferent circuits to the brain, and by altering the peripheral immune responses (cellular and humoral immune function, circulatory inflammatory cells, and the production of several inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen species). The inflammatory responses in the nasal mucosa (rhinitis) or paranasal sinuses (chronic rhinosinusitis) are dual conditions related with a greater risk for developing depression. In the nasal cavity, anatomic components of the olfactive function are in direct contact with the CNS through the olfactory receptors, neurons, and axons that end in the olfactory bulb and the entorhinal cortex. Local microbiome alterations (dysbiosis) are linked to transepithelial translocation of microorganisms and their metabolites, which disrupts the epithelial barrier and favors vascular permeability, increasing the levels of several inflammatory molecules (both cytokines and non-cytokine mediators: extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and neuropeptides), triggering local inflammation (rhinitis) and the spread of these components into the central nervous system (neuroinflammation). In this review, we discuss the role of microbiota-related immunity in conditions affecting the nasal mucosa (chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis) and their relevance in major depressive disorders, focusing on the few mechanisms known to be involved and providing some hypothetical proposals on the pathophysiology of depression.

Incidence and influencing factors of olfactory dysfunction in patients 1 week after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumor: a cross-sectional study of 158 patients

Objective

To investigate the current situation of olfactory dysfunction in patients after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors, and analyze its influencing factors, to provide references for clinical nursing and rehabilitation.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling method were used to investigate 158 patients with pituitary tumors treated by endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection in the Department of Neurosurgery of three Grade-A general hospitals in Sichuan Province from January 2022 and June 2023. The olfactory function of patients was evaluated 1 week after surgery, and the general clinical data and olfactory related data of patients were collected, and the influencing factors of olfactory disorder were analyzed by logistic regression.

Results

The incidence of olfactory dysfunction was 73.42%. analysis revealed that the formation of blood scabs, nasal cavity adhesion, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and operation time were independent risk factors for olfactory dysfunction in patients after transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The incidence of olfactory dysfunction is high in patients after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors, suggesting that medical staff should pay close attention to and identify patients with olfactory dysfunction based on the guidance of disease knowledge and skills, develop targeted nursing interventions, and promote the improvement of patients' olfactory function and quality of life.

Exploring cheese and red wine pairing by an in vitro simulation of tasting

The cheese wine pairing is a beloved combination subject to a certain subjectivity due to sensorial, psychological, chemical, and cultural factors. This work represents a first attempt to explore the in vitro interactions between cheese, wine, and saliva to objectively measure the pairing. Two experimental red wines obtained from the same grape cultivar and four different cheeses were studied for their composition. Binding reactions between wine and cheese were carried out in three simulated tasting trials and, after precipitation, the wine phenolic content, Saliva Precipitation Index (SPI), and total proteins were evaluated. The optimal pairing (OP) was calculated considering the decrease in salivary and cheese proteins by wine, defined as the cleansing effect; the decrease in astringency due to the cheese, measured by the SPI, and the coating fat which would remain in mouth after eating a piece of cheese. Based on obtained results, the semi-hard cheese was identified as the best pairing option for the two experimental red wines. The differences in the phenolic content between the two wines were instead not enough to show a significant influence on the OP. The in vitro cheese wine pairing can contribute to understanding of wine tasting but it is only a part of the puzzle. However, this first contribution paves the way for additional studies on the molecular and chemical interactions involved in aroma and textural perception in simulated trials.

Nature and human well-being: The olfactory pathway

The world is undergoing massive atmospheric and ecological change, driving unprecedented challenges to human well-being. Olfaction is a key sensory system through which these impacts occur. The sense of smell influences quality of and satisfaction with life, emotion, emotion regulation, cognitive function, social interactions, dietary choices, stress, and depressive symptoms. Exposures via the olfactory pathway can also lead to (anti-)inflammatory outcomes. Increased understanding is needed regarding the ways in which odorants generated by nature (i.e., natural olfactory environments) affect human well-being. With perspectives from a range of health, social, and natural sciences, we provide an overview of this unique sensory system, four consensus statements regarding olfaction and the environment, and a conceptual framework that integrates the olfactory pathway into an understanding of the effects of natural environments on human well-being. We then discuss how this framework can contribute to better accounting of the impacts of policy and land-use decision-making on natural olfactory environments and, in turn, on planetary health.

Age and sex-related variations in murine laryngeal microbiota

The larynx undergoes significant age and sex-related changes in structure and function across the lifespan. Emerging evidence suggests that laryngeal microbiota influences immunological processes. Thus, there is a critical need to delineate microbial mechanisms that may underlie laryngeal physiological and immunological changes. As a first step, the present study explored potential age and sex-related changes in the laryngeal microbiota across the lifespan in a murine model. We compared laryngeal microbial profiles of mice across the lifespan (adolescents, young adults, older adults and elderly) to determine age and sex-related microbial variation on 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Measures of alpha diversity and beta diversity were obtained, along with differentially abundant taxa across age groups and biological sexes. There was relative stability of the laryngeal microbiota within each age group and no significant bacterial compositional shift in the laryngeal microbiome across the lifespan. There was an abundance of short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria in the adolescent group, unique to the laryngeal microbiota; taxonomic changes in the elderly resembled that of the aged gut microbiome. There were no significant changes in the laryngeal microbiota relating to biological sex. This is the first study to report age and sex-related variation in laryngeal microbiota. This data lays the groundwork for defining how age-related microbial mechanisms may govern laryngeal health and disease. Bacterial compositional changes, as a result of environmental or systemic stimuli, may not only be indicative of laryngeal-specific metabolic and immunoregulatory processes, but may precede structural and functional age-related changes in laryngeal physiology.

Reduced olfactory performance is associated with changed microbial diversity, oralization, and accumulation of dead biomaterial in the nasal olfactory area

The partial or complete loss of the sense of smell, which affects about 20% of the population, impairs the quality of life in many ways. Dysosmia and anosmia are mainly caused by aging, trauma, infections, or even neurodegenerative disease. Recently, the olfactory area-a site containing the olfactory receptor cells responsible for odor perception-was shown to harbor a complex microbiome that reflects the state of olfactory function. This initially observed correlation between microbiome composition and olfactory performance needed to be confirmed using a larger study cohort and additional analyses. A total of 120 participants (middle-aged, no neurodegenerative disease) were enrolled in the study to further analyze the microbial role in human olfactory function. Olfactory performance was assessed using the Sniffin' Stick battery, and participants were grouped accordingly (normosmia: n = 93, dysosmia: n = 27). The olfactory microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and supplemented by metatranscriptomics in a subset (Nose 2.0). Propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment was performed to distinguish between intact and non-intact microbiome components. The gastrointestinal microbiome of these participants was also characterized by amplicon sequencing and metabolomics and then correlated with food intake. Our results confirm that normosmics and dysosmics indeed possess a distinguishable olfactory microbiome. Alpha diversity (i.e., richness) was significantly increased in dysosmics, reflected by an increase in the number of specific taxa (e.g., Rickettsia, Spiroplasma, and Brachybacterium). Lower olfactory performance was associated with microbial signatures from the oral cavity and periodontitis (Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, and Selenomonas). However, PMA treatment revealed a higher accumulation of dead microbial material in dysosmic subjects. The gastrointestinal microbiome partially overlapped with the nasal microbiome but did not show substantial variation with respect to olfactory performance, although the diet of dysosmic individuals was shifted toward a higher meat intake. Dysosmia is associated with a higher burden of dead microbial material in the olfactory area, indicating an impaired clearance mechanism. As the microbial community of dysosmics (hyposmics and anosmics) appears to be influenced by the oral microbiome, further studies should investigate the microbial oral-nasal interplay in individuals with partial or complete olfactory loss.IMPORTANCEThe loss of the sense of smell is an incisive event that is becoming increasingly common in today's world due to infections such as COVID-19. Although this loss usually recovers a few weeks after infection, in some cases, it becomes permanent-why is yet to be answered. Since this condition often represents a psychological burden in the long term, there is a need for therapeutic approaches. However, treatment options are limited or even not existing. Understanding the role of the microbiome in the impairment of olfaction may enable the prediction of olfactory disorders and/or could serve as a possible target for therapeutic interventions.

Mammalian odorant-binding proteins are prone to form amorphous aggregates and amyloid fibrils

Odorant-binding proteins are involved in perceiving smell by capturing odorants within the protein's β-barrel. On the example of bovine odorant-binding protein (bOBP), the structural organization of such proteins and their ability to bind ligands under various conditions in vitro were examined. We found a tendency of bOBP to form oligomers and small amorphous aggregates without disturbing the integrity of protein monomers at physiological conditions. Changes in environmental parameters (increased temperature and pH) favored the formation of larger and dense supramolecular complexes that significantly reduce the binding of ligands by bOBP. The ability of bOBP to form fibrillar aggregates with the properties of amyloids, including high cytotoxicity, was revealed at sample stirring (even at physiological temperature and pH), at medium acidification or pre-solubilization with hexafluoroisopropanol. Fibrillogenesis of bOBP was initiated by the dissociation of the protein's supramolecular complexes into monomers and the destabilization of the protein's β-barrels without a significant destruction of its native β-strands.

The nasopharyngeal microbiome in COVID-19

The development of novel culture-independent techniques of microbial identification has allowed a rapid progress in the knowledge of the nasopharyngeal microbiota and its role in health and disease. Thus, it has been demonstrated that the nasopharyngeal microbiota defends the host from invading pathogens that enter the body through the upper airways by participating in the modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. The current COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for fast-track research, especially to identify and characterize biomarkers to predict the disease severity and outcome. Since the nasopharyngeal microbiota diversity and composition could potentially be used as a prognosis biomarker for COVID-19 patients, which would pave the way for strategies aiming to reduce the disease severity by modifying such microbiota, dozens of research articles have already explored the possible associations between changes in the nasopharyngeal microbiota and the severity or outcome of COVID-19 patients. Unfortunately, results are controversial, as many studies with apparently similar experimental designs have reported contradictory data. Herein we put together, compare, and discuss all the relevant results on this issue reported to date. Even more interesting, we discuss in detail which are the limitations of these studies, that probably are the main sources of the high variability observed. Therefore, this work is useful not only for people interested in current knowledge about the relationship between the nasopharyngeal microbiota and COVID-19, but also for researchers who want to go further in this field while avoiding the limitations and variability of previous works.

Bacterial communities in the nasal passage of postviral olfactory dysfunction patients

KEY POINTS

Bacterial composition is uniform in the sinuses of postviral olfactory dysfunction patients. Significant reduction of genus Corynebacterium in PVOD patients compared to controls.

The Impact of Nutrition, Physical Activity, Beneficial Microbes, and Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Improving Health

The recognition that microbes are integral to human life has led to studies on how to manipulate them in favor of health outcomes. To date, there has been no conjoint recommendation for the intake of dietary compounds that can complement the ingested organisms in terms of promoting an improved health outcome. The aim of this review is to discuss how beneficial microbes in the form of probiotics, fermented foods, and donor feces are being used to manage health. In addition, we explore the rationale for selecting beneficial microbial strains and aligning diets to accommodate their propagation in the gut. A pilot clinical trial design is presented to examine the effects of probiotics and exercise in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU); it is the most common inborn error of amino acid metabolism, and it is a complication that requires lifelong dietary intervention. The example design is provided to illustrate the importance of using omics technology to see if the intervention elevates neuroactive biogenic amines in the plasma; increases the abundance of Eubacterium rectale, Coprococcus eutactus, Akkermansia muciniphila, or Butyricicoccus; and increases Escherichia/Shigella in the gut, all as markers of improved health. By emphasizing the combined importance of diet, microbial supplements, and the gut microbiome, we hope that future studies will better align these components, not only to improve outcomes, but also to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms.

A Review on the Nasal Microbiome and Various Disease Conditions for Newer Approaches to Treatments

Introduction: Commensal bacteria have always played a significant role in the maintenance of health and disease but are being unravelled only recently. Studies suggest that the nasal microbiome has a significant role in the development of various disease conditions. Search engines were used for searching articles having a nasal microbiome and disease correlation. In olfactory dysfunction, dysbiosis of the microbiome may have a significant role to play in the pathogenesis. The nasal microbiome influences the phenotype of CRS and is also capable of modulating the immune response and plays a role in polyp formation. Microbiome dysbiosis has a pivotal role in the development of Allergic Rhinitis; but, yet known how is this role played. The nasal microbiome has a close association with the severity and phenotype of asthma. They contribute significantly to the onset, severity, and development of asthma. The nasal microbiome has a significant impact on the immunity and protection of its host. The nasal microbiome has been a stimulus in the development of Otitis Media and its manifestations. Studies suggest that the resident nasal microbiome is responsible for the initiation of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's Disease.Materials and Methods: Literature search from PubMed, Medline, and Google with the Mesh terms: nasal microbiome AND diseases. Conclusion: With increasing evidence on the role of the nasal microbiome on various diseases, it would be interesting to see how this microbiome can be modulated by pro/pre/post biotics to prevent a disease or the severity of illness.

Nasal Microbiome in COVID-19: A Potential Role of Corynebacterium in Anosmia

The evolution and the development of the symptoms of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) are due to different factors, where the microbiome plays a relevant role. The possible relationships between the gut, lung, nasopharyngeal, and oral microbiome with COVID-19 have been investigated. We analyzed the nasal microbiome of both positive and negative SARS-CoV-2 individuals, showing differences in terms of bacterial composition in this niche of respiratory tract. The microbiota solution A (Arrow Diagnostics) was used to cover the hypervariable V1-V3 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. MicrobAT Suite and MicrobiomeAnalyst program were used to identify the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and to perform the statistical analysis, respectively. The main taxa identified in nasal microbiome of COVID-19 patients and in Healthy Control subjects belonged to three distinct phyla: Proteobacteria (HC = 14%, Cov19 = 35.8%), Firmicutes (HC = 28.8%, Cov19 = 30.6%), and Actinobacteria (HC = 56.7%, Cov19 = 14.4%) with a relative abundance > 1% in all groups. A significant reduction of Actinobacteria in Cov19 group compared to controls (P < 0.001, FDR = 0.01) was found. The significant reduction of Actinobacteria was identified in all taxonomic levels down to the genus (P < 0.01) using the ANOVA test. Indeed, a significantly reduced relative abundance of Corynebacterium was found in the patients compared to healthy controls (P = 0.001). Reduced abundance of Corynebacterium has been widely associated with anosmia, a common symptom of COVID-19 as suffered from our patients. Contrastingly, the Corynebacterium genus was highly represented in the nasal mucosa of healthy subjects. Further investigations on larger cohorts are necessary to establish functional relationships between nasal microbiota content and clinical features of COVID-19.

The nasal microbiome in patients suffering from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-exacerbated respiratory disease in absence of corticosteroids

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disease phenotypically classified by the absence (CRSsNP) or presence of nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The latter may also be associated with asthma and hypersensitivity towards non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) as a triad termed NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD). The role of the microbiome in these different disease entities with regard to the underlying inflammatory process and disease burden is yet not fully understood. To address this question, we measured clinical parameters and collected nasal samples (nasal mucosal fluids, microbiome swabs from middle meatus and anterior naris) of patients suffering from CRSsNP (n=20), CRSwNP (n=20) or N-ERD (n=20) as well as from patients without CRS (=disease controls, n=20). Importantly, all subjects refrained from taking local or systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressants for at least two weeks prior to sampling. The nasal microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and levels of 33 inflammatory cytokines were determined in nasal mucosal fluids using the MSD platform. Patients suffering from N-ERD and CRSwNP showed significantly worse smell perception and significantly higher levels of type 2 associated cytokines IL-5, IL-9, Eotaxin and CCL17. Across all 4 patient groups, Corynebacteria and Staphylococci showed the highest relative abundances. Although no significant difference in alpha and beta diversity was observed between the control and the CRS groups, pairwise testing revealed a higher relative abundance of Staphylococci in the middle meatus in N-ERD patients as compared to CRSwNP (p<0.001), CRSsNP (p<0.01) and disease controls (p<0.05) and of Lawsonella in patients suffering from CRSwNP in middle meatus and anterior naris in comparison to CRSsNP (p<0.0001 for both locations) and disease controls (p<0.01 and p<0.0001). Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation of Staphylococci with IL-5 (Pearson r=0.548) and a negative correlation for Corynebacteria and Eotaxin-3 (r=-0.540). Thus, in patients refraining from oral and nasal corticosteroid therapy for at least two weeks known to alter microbiome composition, we did not observe differences in microbiome alpha or beta diversity between various CRS entities and disease controls. However, our data suggest a close association between increased bacterial colonization with Staphylococci and decreased colonization by Corynebacteria as well as increased type 2 inflammation.

The Upper Respiratory Tract Microbiome Network Impacted by SARS-CoV-2

The microbiome of upper respiratory tract (URT) acts as a gatekeeper to respiratory health of the host. However, little is still known about the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the microbial species composition and co-occurrence correlations of the URT microbiome, especially the relationships between SARS-CoV-2 and other microbes. Here, we characterized the URT microbiome based on RNA metagenomic-sequencing datasets from 1737 nasopharyngeal samples collected from COVID-19 patients. The URT-microbiome network consisting of bacteria, archaea, and RNA viruses was built and analyzed from aspects of core/periphery species, cluster composition, and balance between positive and negative interactions. It is discovered that the URT microbiome in the COVID-19 patients is enriched with Enterobacteriaceae, a gut associated family containing many pathogens. These pathogens formed a dense cooperative guild that seemed to suppress beneficial microbes collectively. Besides bacteria and archaea, 72 eukaryotic RNA viruses were identified in the URT microbiome of COVID-19 patients. Only five of these viruses were present in more than 10% of all samples, including SARS-CoV-2 and a bat coronavirus (i.e., BatCoV BM48-31) not detected in humans by routine means. SARS-CoV-2 was inhibited by a cooperative alliance of 89 species, but seems to cooperate with BatCoV BM48-31 given their statistically significant, positive correlations. The presence of cooperative bat-coronavirus partner of SARS-CoV-2 (BatCoV BM48-31), which was previously discovered in bat but not in humans to the best of our knowledge, is puzzling and deserves further investigation given their obvious implications. Possible microbial translocation mechanism from gut to URT also deserves future studies.

Nasopharyngeal microbiome of COVID-19 patients revealed a distinct bacterial profile in deceased and recovered individuals

The bacterial co-infections in SARS-CoV-2 patients remained the least explored subject of clinical manifestations that may also determine the disease severity. Nasopharyngeal microbial community structure within SARS-CoV-2 infected patients could reveal interesting microbiome dynamics that may influence the disease outcomes. Here, in this research study, we analyzed distinct nasopharyngeal microbiome profile in the deceased (n = 48) and recovered (n = 29) COVID-19 patients and compared it with control SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals (control) (n = 33). The nasal microbiome composition of the three groups varies significantly (PERMANOVA, p-value <0.001), where deceased patients showed higher species richness compared to the recovered and control groups. Pathogenic genera, including Corynebacterium (LDA score 5.51), Staphylococcus, Serratia, Klebsiella and their corresponding species were determined as biomarkers (p-value <0.05, LDA cutoff 4.0) in the deceased COVID-19 patients. Ochrobactrum (LDA score 5.79), and Burkholderia (LDA 5.29), were found in the recovered group which harbors ordinal bacteria (p-value <0.05, LDA-4.0) as biomarkers. Similarly, Pseudomonas (LDA score 6.19), and several healthy nasal cavity commensals including Veillonella, and Porphyromonas, were biomarkers for the control individuals. Healthy commensal bacteria may trigger the immune response and alter the viral infection susceptibility and thus, may play important role and possible recovery that needs to be further explored. This research finding provide vital information and have significant implications for understanding the microbial diversity of COVID-19 patients. However, additional studies are needed to address the microbiome-based therapeutics and diagnostics interventions.

Gut microbiota profile of COVID-19 patients: Prognosis and risk stratification (MicroCOVID-19 study)

BACKGROUND

Gut microbiota is intrinsically associated with the immune system and can promote or suppress infectious diseases, especially viral infections. This study aims to characterize and compare the microbiota profile of infected patients with SARS-CoV-2 (milder or severe symptoms), non-infected people, and recovered patients. This is a national, transversal, observational, multicenter, and case-control study that analyzed the microbiota of COVID-19 patients with mild or severe symptoms at home, at the hospital, or in the intensive care unit, patients already recovered, and healthy volunteers cohabiting with COVID-19 patients. DNA was isolated from stool samples and sequenced in a NGS platform. A demographic questionnaire was also applied. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS.

RESULTS

Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios were found to be significantly lower in infected patients (1.61 and 2.57) compared to healthy volunteers (3.23) and recovered patients (3.89). Furthermore, the microbiota composition differed significantly between healthy volunteers, mild and severe COVID-19 patients, and recovered patients. Furthermore, Escherichia coli, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Dorea longicatena were shown to be more frequent in severe cases. The most common COVID-19 symptoms were linked to certain microbiome groups.

CONCLUSION

We can conclude that microbiota composition is significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection and may be used to predict COVID-19 clinical evolution. Therefore, it will be possible to better allocate healthcare resources and better tackle future pandemics.

The microbiome-nose-brain axis in health and disease

Growing evidence implicates the bacterial populations in the nose as an important factor for personal and global health. Here, we provide a brief overview of the nasal microbiome and speculate on its potential roles in olfactory processing and neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on Parkinson's disease (PD).

The many genomes of Parkinson's disease

Genetic component of Parkinson's disease, once firmly believed non-existent, involves the human genome, mitochondrial genome, and the microbiome. Understanding the genomics of PD requires identification of PD-relevant genes and learning how they interact within the hologenome and with their environment. This chapter is an evidence-based perspective of a geneticist on how far we have come in this endeavor. The contemporary scientific society started with a naive and simplistic view of PD, evolved to accept that Parkinson's disease is probably the most complex disease there is, the progress we have made in discovering the genes and elucidating their functions, and now assembling the parts to create the whole.

Nasopharyngeal microbiota profiling of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection

We aimed to analyze the nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles in pregnant women with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection, considered a vulnerable population during COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnant women were enrolled from a multicenter prospective population-based cohort during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in Spain (March-June 2020 in Barcelona, Spain) in which the status of SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined by nasopharyngeal RT–PCR and antibodies in peripheral blood. Women were randomly selected for this cross-sectional study on microbiota. DNA was extracted from nasopharyngeal swab samples, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA of bacteria was amplified using region-specific primers. The differential abundance of taxa was tested, and alpha/beta diversity was evaluated. Among 76 women, 38 were classified as positive and 38 as negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection. All positive women were diagnosed by SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM/IgA antibodies, and 14 (37%) also had a positive RT–PCR. The overall composition of the nasopharyngeal microbiota differ in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies), compared to those without the infection (negative SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) (p = 0.001), with a higher relative abundance of the Tenericutes and Bacteroidetes phyla and a higher abundance of the Prevotellaceae family. Infected women presented a different pattern of microbiota profiling due to beta diversity and higher richness (observed ASV < 0.001) and evenness (Shannon index < 0.001) at alpha diversity. These changes were also present in women after acute infection, as revealed by negative RT–PCR but positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, suggesting a potential association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and long-lasting shift in the nasopharyngeal microbiota. No significant differences were reported in mild vs. severe cases. This is the first study on nasopharyngeal microbiota during pregnancy. Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a different nasopharyngeal microbiota profile compared to negative cases.

Nasal Microbiota, Olfactory Health, Neurological Disorders and Aging—A Review

The nasal region is one of the distinct environments for the survival of various microbiota. The human microbial niche begins to inhabit the human body right from birth, and the microbiota survive as commensals or opportunistic pathogens throughout the life of humans in their bodies in various habitats. These microbial communities help to maintain a healthy microenvironment by preventing the attack of pathogens and being involved in immune regulation. Any dysbiosis of microbiota residing in the mucosal surfaces, such as the nasal passages, guts, and genital regions, causes immune modulation and severe infections. The coexistence of microorganisms in the mucosal layers of respiratory passage, resulting in infections due to their co-abundance and interactions, and the background molecular mechanisms responsible for such interactions, need to be considered for investigation. Additional clinical evaluations can explain the interactions among the nasal microbiota, nasal dysbiosis and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). The respiratory airways usually act as a substratum place for the microbes and can act as the base for respiratory tract infections. The microbial metabolites and the microbes can cross the blood–brain barrier and may cause NDs, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). The scientific investigations on the potential role of the nasal microbiota in olfactory functions and the relationship between their dysfunction and neurological diseases are limited. Recently, the consequences of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in patients with neurological diseases are under exploration. The crosstalk between the gut and the nasal microbiota is highly influential, because their mucosal regions are the prominent microbial niche and are connected to the olfaction, immune regulation, and homeostasis of the central nervous system. Diet is one of the major factors, which strongly influences the mucosal membranes of the airways, gut, and lung. Unhealthy diet practices cause dysbiosis in gut microbiota and the mucosal barrier. The current review summarizes the interrelationship between the nasal microbiota dysbiosis, resulting olfactory dysfunctions, and the progression of NDs during aging and the involvement of coronavirus disease 2019 in provoking the NDs.

The Relevance of the Bacterial Microbiome, Archaeome and Mycobiome in Pediatric Asthma and Respiratory Disorders

Bacteria, as well as eukaryotes, principally fungi, of the upper respiratory tract play key roles in the etiopathogenesis of respiratory diseases, whereas the potential role of archaea remains poorly understood. In this review, we discuss the contribution of all three domains of cellular life to human naso- and oropharyngeal microbiomes, i.e., bacterial microbiota, eukaryotes (mostly fungi), as well as the archaeome and their relation to respiratory and atopic disorders in infancy and adolescence. With this review, we aim to summarize state-of-the-art contributions to the field published in the last decade. In particular, we intend to build bridges between basic and clinical science.

A High-Risk Profile for Invasive Fungal Infections Is Associated with Altered Nasal Microbiota and Niche Determinants

It is becoming increasingly clear that the communities of microorganisms that populate the surfaces exposed to the external environment, termed microbiota, are key players in the regulation of pathogen-host cross talk affecting the onset as well as the outcome of infectious diseases. We have performed a multicenter, prospective, observational study in which nasal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected for microbiota predicting the risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients with hematological malignancies. Here, we demonstrate that the nasal and oropharyngeal microbiota are different, although similar characteristics differentiate high-risk from low-risk samples at both sites. Indeed, similar to previously published results on the oropharyngeal microbiota, high-risk samples in the nose were characterized by low diversity, a loss of beneficial bacteria, and an expansion of potentially pathogenic taxa, in the presence of reduced levels of tryptophan (Trp). At variance with oropharyngeal samples, however, low Trp levels were associated with defective host-derived kynurenine production, suggesting reduced tolerance mechanisms at the nasal mucosal surface. This was accompanied by reduced levels of the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8), likely associated with a reduced recruitment of neutrophils and impaired fungal clearance. Thus, the nasal and pharyngeal microbiomes of hematological patients provide complementary information that could improve predictive tools for the risk of IFI in hematological patients.

Psychophysical chemosensory dysfunction in eating disorders: a qualitative systematic review

PURPOSE

Patients with chemosensory dysfunction experience significant quality of life disruptions, including reduced enjoyment of eating. While chemosensory dysfunction has been associated with eating disorders, the relationship is poorly understood. This systematic review aims to characterize psychophysical gustation and olfaction in patients with eating disorders.

METHODS

Systematic review of investigations assessing psychophysical chemosensory function in patients with organic eating disorders.

RESULTS

26 studies were included. Five studies assessed both chemosenses, while 12 and 9 assessed exclusively gustation or olfaction, respectively. In total, 779 patients were included [72.4% anorexia nervosa (AN), 26.7% bulimia nervosa (BN), 0.8% combined AN/BN]. Patients with eating disorders experienced rates of hypogeusia up to 87% in AN and 84.6% in BN. There was evidence for alterations in psychophysical olfaction, but orientation of trends were less clear. Chemosensory dysfunction was more evident in AN patients. Treatment correlated with improved chemosensory function.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite heterogeneity in study methodology and results, this review demonstrates that patients with eating disorders experience some degree of chemosensory dysfunction, particularly in gustation. This symptomatology overlaps with those experienced by patients with other causes of chemosensory impairment. These findings suggest potential broad psychosocial, dietary, and mental health implications in patient populations experiencing chemosensory dysfunction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Relationship between Recovery from COVID-19-Induced Smell Loss and General and Oral Health Factors

Background and Objectives: Loss of smell is one of the strongest predictors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and can persist long after other symptoms have resolved. “Long” cases (>28 days) of smell dysfunction present future challenges to medical and dental professionals, as there is a lack of evidence on the causes and any exacerbating or relieving factors. This study aimed to explore the persistence of COVID-19-induced smell loss and association with physical, lifestyle and oral health factors. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey of 235 participants. Recovery of smell was explored, comparing rapid recovery (≤28 days) with prolonged recovery (>28 days). Associative factors included age, sex, illness severity, diet, BMI, vitamin D supplementation, antidepressants, alcohol use, smoking, brushing frequency, flossing, missing teeth, appliances and number of dental restorations. Results: Smell loss showed 87% resolution within 30 days. Prolonged smell loss was significantly associated with older age (mean ± 95%, CI = 31.53 ± 1.36 years for rapid recovery vs. mean ± 95%, CI = 36.0 ± 3 years for prolonged recovery, p = 0.003) and increased self-reported illness severity (mean ± 95%, CI = 4.39 ± 0.27 for rapid recovery vs. 5.01 ± 0.54 for prolonged recovery, p = 0.016). Fisher’s exact test revealed flossing was associated with rapid recovery, with flossers comprising 75% of the rapid-recovery group, compared to 56% in the prolonged-recovery group (odds ratio ± 95%, CI = 2.26 (1.23–4.15), p = 0.01). All other factors were not significantly associated (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Increased age and illness severity were associated with prolonged smell recovery. Use of floss was the only modifiable factor associated with rapid recovery of smell loss. As 87% of cases resolve within 30 days, future studies may benefit from targeted recruitment of individuals experiencing prolonged sense loss. This would increase statistical confidence when declaring no association with the other factors assessed, avoiding type II errors.

Deep nasal sinus cavity microbiota dysbiosis in Parkinson's disease

Olfactory dysfunction is a pre-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that appears years prior to diagnosis and can affect quality of life in PD. Changes in microbiota community in deep nasal cavity near the olfactory bulb may trigger the olfactory bulb-mediated neuroinflammatory cascade and eventual dopamine loss in PD. To determine if the deep nasal cavity microbiota of PD is significantly altered in comparison to healthy controls, we characterized the microbiota of the deep nasal cavity using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in PD subjects and compared it to that of spousal and non-spousal healthy controls. Correlations between microbial taxa and PD symptom severity were also explored. Olfactory microbial communities of PD individuals were more similar to those of their spousal controls than to non-household controls. In direct comparison of PD and spousal controls and of PD and non-spousal controls, significantly differently abundant taxa were identified, and this included increased relative abundance of putative opportunistic-pathobiont species such as Moraxella catarrhalis. M. catarrhalis was also significantly correlated with more severe motor scores in PD subjects. This proof-of-concept study provides evidence that potential pathobionts are detected in the olfactory bulb and that a subset of changes in the PD microbiota community could be a consequence of unique environmental factors associated with PD living. We hypothesize that an altered deep nasal microbiota, characterized by a putative pro-inflammatory microbial community, could trigger neuroinflammation in PD.

Microbiome First Approaches to Rescue Public Health and Reduce Human Suffering

The is a sequential article to an initial review suggesting that Microbiome First medical approaches to human health and wellness could both aid the fight against noncommunicable diseases and conditions (NCDs) and help to usher in sustainable healthcare. This current review article specifically focuses on public health programs and initiatives and what has been termed by medical journals as a catastrophic record of recent failures. Included in the review is a discussion of the four priority behavioral modifications (food choices, cessation of two drugs of abuse, and exercise) advocated by the World Health Organization as the way to stop the ongoing NCD epidemic. The lack of public health focus on the majority of cells and genes in the human superorganism, the microbiome, is highlighted as is the "regulatory gap" failure to protect humans, particularly the young, from a series of mass population toxic exposures (e.g., asbestos, trichloroethylene, dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, triclosan, bisphenol A and other plasticizers, polyfluorinated compounds, herbicides, food emulsifiers, high fructose corn syrup, certain nanoparticles, endocrine disruptors, and obesogens). The combination of early life toxicity for the microbiome and connected human physiological systems (e.g., immune, neurological), plus a lack of attention to the importance of microbial rebiosis has facilitated rather than suppressed, the NCD epidemic. This review article concludes with a call to place the microbiome first and foremost in public health initiatives as a way to both rescue public health effectiveness and reduce the human suffering connected to comorbid NCDs.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Alzheimer's Disease-A Possible Role for the Nasal Microbiome in Causing Neurodegeneration in the Elderly

Among millions of sufferers of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the challenge is not only constantly coping with CRS-related symptoms, such as congested nose, sinus pain, and headaches, but also various complications, such as attention difficulties and possible depression. These complications suggest that neural activity in the central nervous system may be altered in those patients, leading to unexpected conditions, such as neurodegeneration in elderly patients. Recently, some studies linked the presence of CRS and cognitive impairments that could further develop into Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly and is characterised by progressive memory loss, cognitive behavioural deficits, and significant personality changes. The microbiome, especially those in the gut, has been recognised as a human organ and plays an important role in the development of various conditions, including AD. However, less attention has been paid to the microbiome in the nasal cavity. Increased nasal inflammatory responses due to CRS may be an initial event that changes local microbiome homeostasis, which may further affect neuronal integrity in the central nervous system resulting in AD. Evidence suggests a potential of β-amyloid deposition starting in olfactory neurons, which is then expanded from the nasal cavity to the central nervous system. In this paper, we reviewed currently available evidence that suggests this potential mechanism to advise the need to investigate the link between these two conditions.

Neuropsychiatric Ramifications of COVID-19: Short-Chain Fatty Acid Deficiency and Disturbance of Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis Signaling

COVID-19-associated neuropsychiatric complications are soaring. There is an urgent need to understand the link between COVID-19 and neuropsychiatric disorders. To that end, this article addresses the premise that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in gut dysbiosis and an altered microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis that in turn contributes to the neuropsychiatric ramifications of COVID-19. Altered MGB axis activity has been implicated independently as a risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. A review of the changes in gut microbiota composition in individual psychiatric and neurological disorders and gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients revealed a shared "microbial signature" characterized by a lower microbial diversity and richness and a decrease in health-promoting anti-inflammatory commensal bacteria accompanied by an increase in opportunistic proinflammatory pathogens. Notably, there was a decrease in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing bacteria. SCFAs are key bioactive microbial metabolites with anti-inflammatory functions and have been recognized as a critical signaling pathway in the MGB axis. SCFA deficiency is associated with brain inflammation, considered a cardinal feature of neuropsychiatric disorders. The link between SARS-CoV-2 infection, gut dysbiosis, and altered MGB axis is further supported by COVID-19-associated gastrointestinal symptoms, a high number of SARS-CoV-2 receptors, angiotensin-cleaving enzyme-2 (ACE-2) in the gut, and viral presence in the fecal matter. The binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the receptor results in ACE-2 deficiency that leads to decreased transport of vital dietary components, gut dysbiosis, proinflammatory gut status, increased permeability of the gut-blood barrier (GBB), and systemic inflammation. More clinical research is needed to substantiate further the linkages described above and evaluate the potential significance of gut microbiota as a diagnostic tool. Meanwhile, it is prudent to propose changes in dietary recommendations in favor of a high fiber diet or supplementation with SCFAs or probiotics to prevent or alleviate the neuropsychiatric ramifications of COVID-19.

Biological Roles of Lipocalins in Chemical Communication, Reproduction, and Regulation of Microbiota

Major evolutionary transitions were always accompanied by genetic remodelling of phenotypic traits. For example, the vertebrate transition from water to land was accompanied by rapid evolution of olfactory receptors and by the expansion of genes encoding lipocalins, which - due to their transporting functions - represent an important interface between the external and internal organic world of an individual and also within an individual. Similarly, some lipocalin genes were lost along other genes when this transition went in the opposite direction leading, for example, to cetaceans. In terrestrial vertebrates, lipocalins are involved in the transport of lipophilic substances, chemical signalling, odour reception, antimicrobial defence and background odour clearance during ventilation. Many ancestral lipocalins have clear physiological functions across the vertebrate taxa while many other have - due to pleiotropic effects of their genes - multiple or complementary functions within the body homeostasis and development. The aim of this review is to deconstruct the physiological functions of lipocalins in light of current OMICs techniques. We concentrated on major findings in the house mouse in comparison to other model taxa (e.g., voles, humans, and birds) in which all or most coding genes within their genomes were repeatedly sequenced and their annotations are sufficiently informative.

The Influence of Common Noncommunicable Diseases on Chemosensory Perception and Clinical Implications in Children and Adolescents

An increased incidence of noninfectious chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and allergies, has been noted in the last century, especially in the last 2 to 3 generations. Evidence suggested that the interrelation among these chronic conditions in pediatric age (e.g., children and adolescents aged 4-16 y) is complex and still unknown, reinforcing the interest of pediatricians in these diseases. Of interest is the need to better understand the link between these pathologies and sensory perception, since the chemical senses of taste and smell, together with chemesthesis, are reported to have a role in food choices and may provide a novel target for intervention in the treatment of these pathologies. This review aims to explore the current evidence on the link between these chronic conditions and chemosensory perception (i.e., taste and smell). In addition, the putative role that chemosensory perception may have on food choices and eating behavior of children and adolescents affected by these diseases are highlighted. Furthermore, the review addresses the unexplored issues that need to be investigated in this area. The literature data search suggested that no clear relation between taste and smell perception and the aforementioned diseases in young population yet exists. However, some possible trends have been highlighted in the adult population, in whom the duration of disease might have affected the relation. There is a need for further, high-quality, hypothesis-led research, with robust measures of taste and smell functions as the primary outcomes, to strengthen or deny this evidence.

Canine olfactory detection and its relevance to medical detection

The extraordinary olfactory sense of canines combined with the possibility to learn by operant conditioning enables dogs for their use in medical detection in a wide range of applications. Research on the ability of medical detection dogs for the identification of individuals with infectious or non-infectious diseases has been promising, but compared to the well-established and-accepted use of sniffer dogs by the police, army and customs for substances such as money, explosives or drugs, the deployment of medical detection dogs is still in its infancy. There are several factors to be considered for standardisation prior to deployment of canine scent detection dogs. Individual odours in disease consist of different volatile organic molecules that differ in magnitude, volatility and concentration. Olfaction can be influenced by various parameters like genetics, environmental conditions, age, hydration, nutrition, microbiome, conditioning, training, management factors, diseases and pharmaceuticals. This review discusses current knowledge on the function and importance of canines' olfaction and evaluates its limitations and the potential role of the dog as a biomedical detector for infectious and non-infectious diseases.

The Upper Airway Microbiota, Environmental Exposures, Inflammation, and Disease

Along with playing vital roles in pathogen exclusion and immune system priming, the upper airways (UAs) and their microbiota are essential for myriad physiological functions such as conditioning and transferring inhaled air. Dysbiosis, a microbial imbalance, is linked with various diseases and significantly impedes the quality of one’s life. Daily inhaled exposures and/or underlying conditions contribute to adverse changes to the UA microbiota. Such variations in the microbial community exacerbate UA and pulmonary disorders via modulating inflammatory and immune pathways. Hence, exploring the UA microbiota’s role in maintaining homeostasis is imperative. The microbial composition and subsequent relationship with airborne exposures, inflammation, and disease are crucial for strategizing innovating UA diagnostics and therapeutics. The development of a healthy UA microbiota early in life contributes to normal respiratory development and function in the succeeding years. Although different UA cavities present a unique microbial profile, geriatrics have similar microbes across their UAs. This lost community segregation may contribute to inflammation and disease, as it stimulates disadvantageous microbial–microbial and microbial–host interactions. Varying inflammatory profiles are associated with specific microbial compositions, while the same is true for many disease conditions and environmental exposures. A shift in the microbial composition is also detected upon the administration of numerous therapeutics, highlighting other beneficial and adverse side effects. This review examines the role of the UA microbiota in achieving homeostasis, and the impact on the UAs of environmental airborne pollutants, inflammation, and disease.

A Dual-Route Perspective of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Lung- vs. Gut-specific Effects of ACE-2 Deficiency

SARS-CoV-2, primarily considered a respiratory virus, is increasingly recognized as having gastrointestinal aspects based on its presence in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and feces. SARS-CoV-2 uses as a receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), a critical member of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) involved in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid system. In addition to the systemic endocrine functions, RAAS components are also involved in intracrine and organ-specific local functions. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is a key component of RAAS and a receptor for SARS-CoV-2. It is expressed in many tissues with gastrointestinal (GI) tract ACE-2 levels far exceeding those in the respiratory tract. SARS-CoV-2 binding to its receptor results in a deficiency of ACE-2 activity in endocrine, intracrine, and local lung and GI tract ACE-2. The local ACE-2 has different organ-specific functions, including hypertension-independent activities; dysregulations of these functions may contribute to multiorgan COVID-19 pathology, its severity, long-term effects, and mortality. We review supporting evidence from this standpoint. Notably, COVID-19 comorbidities involving hypertension, obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes are associated with gastrointestinal problems and display ACE-2 deficits. While RAAS inhibitors target both endocrine and intracrine ACE-2 activity, the deficit of the local ACE-2 activity in the lungs and more so in the gut have not been targeted. Consequently, the therapeutic approach to COVID-19 should be carefully reconsidered. Ongoing clinical trials testing oral probiotic bound ACE-2 delivery are promising.

Olfaction and Aging: A Review of the Current State of Research and Future Directions

Olfaction, the sense of smell, is characterized by a notable age-dependency such that aging individuals are more likely to have poor olfactory abilities. These impairments are considered to be mostly irreversible and as having potentially profound effects on quality of life and food behavior, as well as constituting warning signs of mortality, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. Here, we review the current state of research on aging and olfaction, focusing on five topics which we regard to be of particular relevance for the field: nutrition and health, cognition and dementia, mortality, environment and genetics, and training-based enhancement. Under each of these headlines, we provide a state-of-the-art overview and discuss gaps in our knowledge which might be filled by further research. Understanding how olfactory abilities are diminished in aging, and how they may be alleviated or recovered, involves a set of challenging tasks for researchers in the years to come.

Oral seeding and niche-adaptation of middle ear biofilms in health

The entrenched dogma of a sterile middle ear mucosa in health is incongruent with its periodic aeration and seeding with saliva aerosols. To test this, we sequenced 16S rRNA-V4 amplicons from otic secretions collected at the nasopharyngeal orifice of the tympanic tube and, as controls, oropharyngeal and buccal samples. The otic samples harbored a rich diversity of oral keystone genera and similar functional traits but were enriched in anaerobic genera in the Bacteroidetes (Prevotella and Alloprevotella), Fusobacteria (Fusobacterium and Leptotrichia) and Firmicutes (Veillonella) phyla. Facultative anaerobes in the Streptococcus genus were also abundant in the otic and oral samples but corresponded to distinct, and sometimes novel, cultivars, consistent with the ecological diversification of the oral migrants once in the middle ear microenvironment. Neutral community models also predicted a large contribution of oral dispersal to the otic communities and the positive selection of taxa better adapted to growth and reproduction under limited aeration. These results challenge the traditional view of a sterile middle ear in health and highlight hitherto unknown roles for oral dispersal and episodic ventilation in seeding and diversifying otic biofilms.

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The middle ear mucosa harbors a rich bacterial community in health.

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Oral migration is the primary mechanism for seeding otic biofilms.

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Periodic aeration of the middle ear enriches for anaerobic taxa and promotes the ecological diversification of oral migrants.

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Our study challenges the entrenched dogma of a sterile middle ear in health.

NIH Workshop Report: sensory nutrition and disease

In November 2019, the NIH held the "Sensory Nutrition and Disease" workshop to challenge multidisciplinary researchers working at the interface of sensory science, food science, psychology, neuroscience, nutrition, and health sciences to explore how chemosensation influences dietary choice and health. This report summarizes deliberations of the workshop, as well as follow-up discussion in the wake of the current pandemic. Three topics were addressed: A) the need to optimize human chemosensory testing and assessment, B) the plasticity of chemosensory systems, and C) the interplay of chemosensory signals, cognitive signals, dietary intake, and metabolism. Several ways to advance sensory nutrition research emerged from the workshop: 1) refining methods to measure chemosensation in large cohort studies and validating measures that reflect perception of complex chemosensations relevant to dietary choice; 2) characterizing interindividual differences in chemosensory function and how they affect ingestive behaviors, health, and disease risk; 3) defining circuit-level organization and function that link and interact with gustatory, olfactory, homeostatic, visceral, and cognitive systems; and 4) discovering new ligands for chemosensory receptors (e.g., those produced by the microbiome) and cataloging cell types expressing these receptors. Several of these priorities were made more urgent by the current pandemic because infection with sudden acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the ensuing coronavirus disease of 2019 has direct short- and perhaps long-term effects on flavor perception. There is increasing evidence of functional interactions between the chemosensory and nutritional sciences. Better characterization of this interface is expected to yield insights to promote health, mitigate disease risk, and guide nutrition policy.

Changes in olfactory function and olfactory bulb after treatment for acromegaly

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the olfactory functions of the acromegaly patients and to discuss the possible causes of olfactory dysfunction in acromegaly patients.

METHODS

A case-control study was carried out in a tertiary referral center. 52 patients with acromegaly (Acromegaly group) and 52 healthy individuals (Control group) were included in the study. All acromegaly patients included in the study were in the late postoperative period. The Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test was carried out and olfactory bulb (OB) volumes were measured in both of the groups.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the mean CCCRC total scores of the acromegaly and control groups (p = .000). The mean of right and left OB volumes in the acromegaly group was significantly higher than the control group (p = .004) CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that acromegaly patients are likely to experience olfactory dysfunction. It is important to examine these patients' olfactory functions at the time of diagnosis and clinic follow-up.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

NCT04138537.

The Microbiota/Host Immune System Interaction in the Nose to Protect from COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is characterized by variable clinical presentation that ranges from asymptomatic to fatal multi-organ damage. The site of entry and the response of the host to the infection affect the outcomes. The role of the upper airways and the nasal barrier in the prevention of infection is increasingly being recognized. Besides the epithelial lining and the local immune system, the upper airways harbor a community of microorganisms, or microbiota, that takes an active part in mucosal homeostasis and in resistance to infection. However, the role of the upper airway microbiota in COVID-19 is not yet completely understood and likely goes beyond protection from viral entry to include the regulation of the immune response to the infection. Herein, we discuss the hypothesis that restoring endogenous barriers and anti-inflammatory pathways that are defective in COVID-19 patients might represent a valid strategy to reduce infectivity and ameliorate clinical symptomatology.

Loss of bacterial diversity in the sinuses is associated with lower smell discrimination scores

Olfactory impairment affects ~ 20% of the population and has been linked to various serious disorders. Microbes in the nasal cavity play a key role in priming the physiology of the olfactory epithelium and maintaining a normal sense of smell by the host. The aim of this study was to explore the link between olfactory dysfunction and nasal bacterial communities. A total of 162 subjects were recruited for this study from a specialized olfactory dysfunction clinic and placed into one of three groups: anosmia, hyposmia or normosmia. Swabs from the nasal middle meatus were collected from each subject then processed for bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. No overall differences in bacterial diversity or composition were observed between the three cohorts in this study. However, the relative abundances of Corynebacterium spp. and Streptococcus spp. were significantly (p < 0.05) different in subjects with olfactory loss. Furthermore, subjects with deficiencies in discriminating between smells (based on discrimination scores) had a lower bacterial diversity (Simpson’s evenness p < 0.05). While these results are preliminary in nature, potential bacterial biomarkers for olfactory loss were identified. These findings need to be further validated and biologically tested in animal models.

Microbiomes other than the gut: inflammaging and age-related diseases

During the course of evolution, bacteria have developed an intimate relationship with humans colonizing specific body sites at the interface with the body exterior and invaginations such as nose, mouth, lung, gut, vagina, genito-urinary tract, and skin and thus constituting an integrated meta-organism. The final result has been a mutual adaptation and functional integration which confers significant advantages to humans and bacteria. The immune system of the host co-evolved with the microbiota to develop complex mechanisms to recognize and destroy invading microbes, while preserving its own bacteria. Composition and diversity of the microbiota change according to development and aging and contribute to humans' health and fitness by modulating the immune system response and inflammaging and vice versa. In the last decades, we experienced an explosion of studies on the role of gut microbiota in aging, age-related diseases, and longevity; however, less reports are present on the role of the microbiota at different body sites. In this review, we describe the key steps of the co-evolution between Homo sapiens and microbiome and how this adaptation can impact on immunosenescence and inflammaging. We briefly summarized the role of gut microbiota in aging and longevity while bringing out the involvement of the other microbiota.

Factors affecting flavor perception in space: Does the spacecraft environment influence food intake by astronauts?

The intention to send a crewed mission to Mars involves a huge amount of planning to ensure a safe and successful mission. Providing adequate amounts of food for the crew is a major task, but 20 years of feeding astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have resulted in a good knowledge base. A crucial observation from the ISS is that astronauts typically consume only 80% of their daily calorie requirements when in space. This is despite daily exercise regimes that keep energy usage at very similar levels to those found on Earth. This calorie deficit seems to have little effect on astronauts who spend up to 12 months on the ISS, but given that a mission to Mars would take 30 to 36 months to complete, there is concern that a calorie deficit over this period may lead to adverse effects in crew members. The key question is why astronauts undereat when they have a supply of food designed to fully deliver their nutritional needs. This review focuses on evidence from astronauts that foods taste different in space, compared to on Earth. The underlying hypothesis is that conditions in space may change the perceived flavor of the food, and this flavor change may, in turn, lead to underconsumption by astronauts. The key areas investigated in this review for their potential impact on food intake are the effects of food shelf life, physiological changes, noise, air and water quality on the perception of food flavor, as well as the link between food flavor and food intake.

Olfactory outcomes after endonasal skull base surgery: a systematic review

For the last two decades, endonasal approach has been regularly applied to treat skull base lesions. However, postoperative olfactory dysfunction remains an unsolved problem. This systematic review aimed to identify factors that might affect postoperative olfactory prognosis of patients undergoing endonasal surgery for resection of sellar/parasellar lesions. The literature search was conducted comprehensively to exhaust studies which focused on patients' olfaction with objective olfactory assessments after endonasal skull base surgery. We sought to characterize the potential factors that might affect postoperative olfactory outcomes. Nineteen articles met inclusion criteria. We found that (1) endoscopic surgery was beneficial to patients' olfactory prognosis than microscopic surgery (incidence of postoperative decreased olfactory function: 18.48% (39/211) for the endoscopic group and 36.88% (52/141) for the microscopic group, P < 0.01); meta-analysis for single rate, 20% (95% CI 9-30%) for the endoscopic group and 35% (95% CI 0-72%) for the microscopic group); (2) harvesting septal flaps was an unfavorable factor for olfactory recovery and the rescue flap technique should be preferred compared with the HB flap; (3) no evidence showed that resection of the middle turbinate was detrimental to recovery of olfaction. Patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery may have better olfactory outcomes than those undergoing microscopic endonasal surgery for resection of sellar/parasellar lesions. Special attention should be paid when using septal flaps is planned and the rescue flap technique should be the preferred choice. After resecting the middle turbinate, patients' olfaction still has a great chance of returning to the baseline. More homogeneous and high-quality studies are needed for further assessment.

Arsenic and the gastrointestinal tract microbiome

Arsenic is a toxin, ranking first on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Environmental Protection Agency Priority List of Hazardous Substances. Chronic exposure increases the risk of a broad range of human illnesses, most notably cancer; however, there is significant variability in arsenic-induced disease among exposed individuals. Human genetics is a known component, but it alone cannot account for the large inter-individual variability in the presentation of arsenicosis symptoms. Each part of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) may be considered as a unique environment with characteristic pH, oxygen concentration, and microbiome. Given the well-established arsenic redox transformation activities of microorganisms, it is reasonable to imagine how the GIT microbiome composition variability among individuals could play a significant role in determining the fate, mobility and toxicity of arsenic, whether inhaled or ingested. This is a relatively new field of research that would benefit from early dialogue aimed at summarizing what is known and identifying reasonable research targets and concepts. Herein, we strive to initiate this dialogue by reviewing known aspects of microbe-arsenic interactions and placing it in the context of potential for influencing host exposure and health risks. We finish by considering future experimental approaches that might be of value.

First step of odorant detection in the olfactory epithelium and olfactory preferences differ according to the microbiota profile in mice

We have previously provided the first evidence that the microbiota modulates the physiology of the olfactory epithelium using germfree mice. The extent to which changes to the olfactory system depend on the microbiota is still unknown. In the present work, we explored if different microbiota would differentially impact olfaction. We therefore studied the olfactory function of three groups of mice of the same genetic background, whose parents had been conventionalized before mating with microbiota from three different mouse strains. Caecal short chain fatty acids profiles and 16S rRNA gene sequencing ascertained that gut microbiota differed between the three groups. We then used a behavioural test to measure the attractiveness of various odorants and observed that the three groups of mice differed in their attraction towards odorants. Their olfactory epithelium properties, including electrophysiological responses recorded by electro-olfactograms and expression of genes related to the olfactory transduction pathway, also showed several differences. Overall, our data demonstrate that differences in gut microbiota profiles are associated with differences in olfactory preferences and in olfactory epithelium functioning.

Deformability-induced lift force in spiral microchannels for cell separation

Cell sorting and isolation from a heterogeneous mixture is a crucial task in many aspects of cell biology, biotechnology and medicine. Recently, there has been an interest in methods allowing cell separation upon their intrinsic properties such as cell size and deformability, without the need for use of biochemical labels. Inertial focusing in spiral microchannels has been recognised as an attractive approach for high-throughput cell sorting for myriad point of care and clinical diagnostics. Particles of different sizes interact to a different degree with the fluid flow pattern generated within the spiral microchannel and that leads to particles ordering and separation based on size. However, the deformable nature of cells adds complexity to their ordering within the spiral channels. Herein, an additional force, deformability-induced lift force (FD), involved in the cell focusing mechanism within spiral microchannels has been identified, investigated and reported for the first time, using a cellular deformability model (where the deformability of cells is gradually altered using chemical treatments). Using this model, we demonstrated that spiral microchannels are capable of separating cells of the same size but different deformability properties, extending the capability of the previous method. We have developed a unique label-free approach for deformability-based purification through coupling the effect of FD with inertial focusing in spiral microchannels. This microfluidic-based purification strategy, free of the modifying immuno-labels, allowing cell processing at a large scale (millions of cells per min and mls of medium per minute), up to high purities and separation efficiency and without compromising cell quality.

Dual and Triple Epithelial Coculture Model Systems with Donor-Derived Microbiota and THP-1 Macrophages To Mimic Host-Microbe Interactions in the Human Sinonasal Cavities

Despite the relevance of the resident microbiota in sinonasal health and disease and the need for cross talk between immune and epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract, these parameters have not been combined in a single in vitro model system. We have developed a coculture system of differentiated respiratory epithelium and natural nasal microbiota and incorporated an immune component. As indicated by absence of cytotoxicity and stable cytokine profiles and epithelial integrity, nasal microbiota from human origin appeared to be well tolerated by host cells, while microbial community composition remained representative for that of the human (sino)nasal cavity. Importantly, the introduction of macrophage-like cells enabled us to obtain a differential readout from the epithelial cells dependent on the donor microbial background to which the cells were exposed. We conclude that both model systems offer the means to investigate host-microbe interactions in the upper respiratory tract in a more representative way.

The epithelium of the human sinonasal cavities is colonized by a diverse microbial community, modulating epithelial development and immune priming and playing a role in respiratory disease. Here, we present a novel in vitro approach enabling a 3-day coculture of differentiated Calu-3 respiratory epithelial cells with a donor-derived bacterial community, a commensal species (Lactobacillus sakei), or a pathobiont (Staphylococcus aureus). We also assessed how the incorporation of macrophage-like cells could have a steering effect on both epithelial cells and the microbial community. Inoculation of donor-derived microbiota in our experimental setup did not pose cytotoxic stress on the epithelial cell layers, as demonstrated by unaltered cytokine and lactate dehydrogenase release compared to a sterile control. Epithelial integrity of the differentiated Calu-3 cells was maintained as well, with no differences in transepithelial electrical resistance observed between coculture with donor-derived microbiota and a sterile control. Transition of nasal microbiota from in vivo to in vitro conditions maintained phylogenetic richness, and yet a decrease in phylogenetic and phenotypic diversity was noted. Additional inclusion and coculture of THP-1-derived macrophages did not alter phylogenetic diversity, and yet donor-independent shifts toward higher Moraxella and Mycoplasma abundance were observed, while phenotypic diversity was also increased. Our results demonstrate that coculture of differentiated airway epithelial cells with a healthy donor-derived nasal community is a viable strategy to mimic host-microbe interactions in the human upper respiratory tract. Importantly, including an immune component allowed us to study host-microbe interactions in the upper respiratory tract more in depth.

IMPORTANCE Despite the relevance of the resident microbiota in sinonasal health and disease and the need for cross talk between immune and epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract, these parameters have not been combined in a single in vitro model system. We have developed a coculture system of differentiated respiratory epithelium and natural nasal microbiota and incorporated an immune component. As indicated by absence of cytotoxicity and stable cytokine profiles and epithelial integrity, nasal microbiota from human origin appeared to be well tolerated by host cells, while microbial community composition remained representative for that of the human (sino)nasal cavity. Importantly, the introduction of macrophage-like cells enabled us to obtain a differential readout from the epithelial cells dependent on the donor microbial background to which the cells were exposed. We conclude that both model systems offer the means to investigate host-microbe interactions in the upper respiratory tract in a more representative way.

Commensal Microbiota Regulation of Metabolic Networks During Olfactory Dysfunction in Mice

INTRODUCTION

Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on commensal microbiota. These microorganisms have been suggested to impact human health and disease. However, only a small amount of data exists to support the assessment of the influences that commensal microbiota exert on olfactory function.

METHODS

We used a buried food pellet test (BFPT) to investigate and compare olfactory functions in adult, male, germ-free (GF) and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice, then examined and compared the metabolomic profiles for olfactory bulbs (OBs) isolated from GF and SPF mice to uncover the mechanisms associated with olfactory dysfunction.

RESULTS

We found that the absence of commensal microbiota was able to influence olfactory function and the metabolic signatures of OBs, with 38 metabolites presenting significant differences between the two groups. These metabolites were primarily associated with disturbances in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, amino acid metabolism, and purine catabolism. Finally, the commensal microbiota regulation of metabolic networks during olfactory dysfunction was identified, based on an integrated analysis of metabolite, protein, and mRNA levels.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the absence of commensal microbiota may impair olfactory function and disrupt metabolic networks. These findings provide a new entry-point for understanding olfactory-associated disorders and their potential underlying mechanisms.

Exploring the Archaeome: Detection of Archaeal Signatures in the Human Body

Due to their fundamentally different biology, archaea are consistently overlooked in conventional microbiome surveys. Using amplicon sequencing, we evaluated methodological set-ups to detect archaea in samples from five different body sites: respiratory tract (nasal cavity), digestive tract (mouth, appendix, and stool) and skin. With optimized protocols, the detection of archaeal ribosomal sequence variants (RSVs) was increased from one (found in currently used, so-called "universal" approach) to 81 RSVs in a representative sample set. The results from this extensive primer-evaluation led to the identification of the primer pair combination 344f-1041R/519F-806R which performed superior for the analysis of the archaeome of gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity and skin. The proposed protocol might not only prove useful for analyzing the human archaeome in more detail but could also be used for other holobiont samples.