What is the Connection Between the Microbiome and Respiratory Disease? (with live Q&A)

The rates of bacteria found within the lungs have been linked to respiratory conditions, such as the presence of Haemophilus influenzae in asthma patients,¹ and a reduced number of diverse Prevotella has been linked to symptom severity in COPD.²

The microbiome of the lung should be assessed, as recurrent infections from bacteria and viruses are associated with a decline in quality of life and lung function of respiratory patients.

Notably, some studies have shown that exposure to a rich microbial environment early in life, such as growing up on a farm, can protect against asthma development.^3,4 Research into the microbiome of the lungs can provide a pathway to development of new treatments for respiratory diseases.⁵

Chiesi proudly welcomes Dr Aran Singanayagam to provide an overview of the microbiome of the lungs; including how normal flora of the lungs can change due to exacerbation damage and opens individuals up to further infection. His presentation will also discuss the utility of sputum samples and the place of antibiotics in respiratory.

He is joined by Professor Timothy Hinks to discuss the microbiome in asthma, such as the development of asthma, asthma control and exacerbations from viruses. He will be reviewing data from both cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies. This presentation will also touch upon the gut-lung microbiome axis and antimicrobial stewardship.

At Chiesi, we believe it is important for clinicians to gain more knowledge into the factors which may contribute to the worsening of respiratory conditions. The recognition of how the microbiome plays a part in the management and stability of COPD and asthma can support clinicians when prescribing inhaled medicines and antibiotics.

We sincerely hope you join us on Thursday 26^th June 2025 at 1–2pm for this webinar and live Q&A session.

References

1. Chung KF. Airway microbial dysbiosis in asthmatic patients: a target for prevention and treatment? J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017; 139:107 –81 .

2. Ramsheh MY, Haldar K, Esteve-Codina A, et al. Lung microbiome composition and bronchial epithelial gene expression in patients with COPD versus healthy individuals: a bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and host transcriptomic analysis. Lancet Microbe. 2021;2(7):e300-e310. doi:10.1016/S2666-5247(21)00035-5

3. Miriam F Moffatt, William OCM Cookson. The lung microbiome in health and disease. Clinical Medicine. Vol. 17, Issue 6. 2017. Pages 525-529.

4. Ege MJ , Mayer M , Normand AC et al. Exposure to environmental microorganisms and childhood asthma. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:701–9 .

5. Imperial College London. Article by Ms Helen Johnson: Better Understanding of lung microbiome opens door for new respiratory treatment. March 2024. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/251814/better-understanding-lung-microbiome-opens-door/

If you are experiencing any issues viewing the webinar please click here to view the webinar through the Zoom platform.

• Dr Aran Singanayagam

  MRC Clinician Scientist and Consultant in Respiratory Medicine

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  Dr Aran Singanayagam

  MRC Clinician Scientist and Consultant in Respiratory Medicine Imperial College London and Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital

  Role and Location 
  Dr. Aran Singanayagam is an MRC Clinician Scientist Group Leader at Imperial College London and Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals.

  Education
  He qualified from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 2005.

  Research Interests
  Aran’s research program employs a reverse translational approach using in vitro and in vivo disease models to understand how pulmonary host-defence is dysregulated in the context of inflammatory airway diseases with a specific focus on roles played by airway microbiota. He has published extensively in this area (h-index 50) and sits on the Editorial Boards of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and European Respiratory Journal.

• Professor Timothy SC Hinks

  Associate Professor, Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant

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  Professor Timothy SC Hinks

  Associate Professor, Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant University of Oxford

  Role and Location
  Professor Timothy Hinks is a Wellcome Career Development Fellow at the University of Oxford, where his group researches the immunology of airways diseases and airways infections.

  Education
  After training at Cambridge and Oxford, and predoctoral research into TB immunology, he undertook a Wellcome funded PhD in Southampton on T cell responses in asthma, with subsequent postdoctoral research in Melbourne studying pulmonary MAIT cells.

  Research Interests
  In 2017 he established his group at Oxford, focusing on the role of microbes and macrolides in asthma, functions of MAIT cells and the immunoepigenomics of asthma using bronchoscopies, single cell and spatial technologies. As an Honorary Consultant and Associate Professor, he co-leads the Severe Asthma Service at the John Radcliffe Hospital.