Post-COVID-19 disruption of the respiratory microbiome modulates Mycoplasma pneumoniae : a multi-center retrospective investigation study

作者：Shiyu Huang, Shengkai Li, Ruike Zhao, Huajiang Yang, Yina Liu, Xinyi Wang, Jiaqi Zhang, Chen‐Yang Shen, Fei-Na Li, Hua Xu, Changyuan Guo, Xin Ni, Heng Li, Qing Cao, Zhemin Zhou · 发表于：Emerging Microbes & Infections · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1080/22221751.2025.2562053 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections、Gut microbiota and health、Microbial infections and disease research

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a notable resurgence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in children, with a concerning rise in the severity of cases. Although changes in post-pandemic respiratory infection patterns have been documented, the reasons behind the increased severity of MPP, especially concerning shifts in the respiratory microbiota, are not well understood. This study aims to explore how pandemic-associated disruptions in respiratory microbiota contribute to MPP severity. Through analysis of multiple independent cohorts, we found that the depletion of protective respiratory microbiota exacerbates MPP severity by reducing colonization resistance against M. pneumoniae. We identified two antagonistic microbiota modules with distinct metabolic features and community structures that regulate pathogen colonization and disease severity. Using a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model, we simulated M. pneumoniae infection dynamics across different microbiota states. Additionally, a machine-learning model based on eight key microbes effectively distinguished between cases and controls and predicted infection severity, offering insights into post-pandemic respiratory infections. This study underscores the essential role of the respiratory microbiota in influencing the severity of M. pneumoniae infections. Our findings offer a framework for managing respiratory infections in the post-pandemic era, highlighting the significance of understanding microbial ...