Mikrobiom der Lungen

Background: The development of genome-based analyses of the microbiome has had considerable influence on the understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes on body surfaces and facilitated the discovery and characterization of the pulmonary microbiome. Objective: Presentation of the development of the healthy microbiome of the lungs and of the alterations in bronchopulmonary dysplasia, bronchial asthma and cystic fibrosis. Material and methods: Selective literature search. Results: During the past decade, the existence of a physiological lung microbiome was proven by using novel techniques of protected bronchoscopy. The lung microbiome is characterized by an equilibrium between the immigration and elimination of bacteria. Disturbances of this equilibrium are most frequent in vulnerable patients and can result from an enhanced local proliferation of bacteria. This has an influence on the density, diversity and composition of species. Conclusion: Changes in the pulmonary microbiome can be the cause, an epiphenomenon or the consequence of diseases. Future studies will elucidate whether a targeted modulation of the pulmonary microbiome, e. g. by administration of probiotics, has a therapeutic benefit.