The Importance of the Nasal Microbiome in Transmission and Disease

What this Trial Is About

This research investigates the nasal microbiome and its role in various conditions including normal health, olfactory dysfunction, COVID-19, long COVID-19 with lasting olfactory issues, and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with and without nasal polyps. The study aims to understand how the nasal microbiome and immune factors interact and differ among these groups, with a focus on how treatments like intranasal glucocorticoids and biological therapies might influence these factors. Participants include six groups: healthy individuals without nasal or airway diseases, non-COVID patients with olfactory dysfunction, COVID-19 positive patients in the acute phase, long COVID-19 patients with persistent olfactory dysfunction, patients with CRS starting intranasal steroid treatment, and those beginning biological therapy. Samples collected include nasal and oral swabs for microbiome analysis using advanced sequencing methods, nasal biopsies for histological and spatial transcriptomic studies, and nasal secretions for cytokine profiling. Follow-up occurs at six months for microbiome differences and after 24 weeks for patients starting steroid treatment. Participants undergo medical history reviews, ear, nose, and throat examinations including endoscopy, smell and taste testing, and questionnaires assessing nasal symptoms and mental health. Researchers analyze microbial diversity and immune markers from collected samples to measure differences in microbiome composition and immune responses. Safety is ensured through exclusion of patients with bleeding risks for biopsies, and all procedures comply with ethical and data protection standards. The study is led by the University of Aarhus and involves collaboration with specialized institutes.

The Nasal Microbiome and Its Importance in Disease