Respiratory Tract Microbes and Health

The respiratory tract contains microbes that help shape health and disease. It includes the upper respiratory tract, such as the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx, and the lower respiratory tract, which includes the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. The upper tract is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lowe...

The upper respiratory tract is constantly exposed to airborne microbes, many of which are trapped by mucus and removed by immune defenses.

The anterior nares are typically dominated by commensal Staphylococci and Corynebacterium, which can competitively inhibit potential pathogens.

Deeper regions of the nasal cavity and...