Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization in US infants. However, the differences in acute severity are not explained by traditional risk factors. In addition, although infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis are at very high risk for incident asthma, the mechanisms linking these two conditions remain unclear. These major knowledge gaps have hindered efforts to develop bronchiolitis treatment strategies and to prevent asthma in this high-risk population. The 35th Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration (MARC-35) study (U01AI-87881; Camargo, PI) is an ongoing 17-center cohort study that completed enrollment of 1016 hospitalized infants with bronchiolitis in 2014. In this diverse cohort (54% African-American or Hispanic), investigators have collected high-quality biospecimens, including nasopharyngeal samples at the index hospitalization (median age, 3 months). Follow-up data include biannual parent interviews, medical record reviews, and in-person exam at age 6 years, with >90% follow-up to date. The current R01 project would extend this large well-characterized bronchiolitis cohort by defining nasopharyngeal airway metagenomic and metabolomic profiles in the setting of bronchiolitis, and by examining their relations to both acute (bronchiolitis severity) and chronic (incident asthma) outcomes in childhood.
In Aim 1, we will determine the relations among the airway microbiome (metagenome) profiles, metabolome profiles, and acute bronchiolitis severity.
In Aim 2, we will examine the relations among the airway microbiome and metabolomic profiles in infants with bronchiolitis, and the risk of developing asthma. Lastly, using a systems biology approach, Aim 3 will define bronchiolitis endotypes by integrating clinical, virus, molecular data (e.g., airway microbiome and metabolome), and determine their associations with the acute and chronic outcomes. Our pilot data demonstrate compelling support for our hypotheses. The current R01 project will provide a unique opportunity to define the pathobiology of bronchiolitis through examining the functional capacity of microbiome (metagenome) as well as the small molecules representing functional activity of both microbiome and host (metabolome). In addition, by investigating young infants with bronchiolitis ? a natural experiment during a crucial period of lung development ? we will also define the mechanisms linking bronchiolitis to incident asthma. The study will provide a strong evidence base for bronchiolitis treatment and asthma prevention strategies through the future development of targeted interventions (e.g., modulation of microbiome and metabolic pathways). The investigators are NIH-funded researchers with international expertise in the field. The study matches well with the 2013 NIAID Strategic Plan.

Public Health Relevance

Bronchiolitis and asthma are major public health problems for children in the U.S., but no effective strategies to treat bronchiolitis or to prevent childhood asthma are available. In an ongoing prospective cohort of children with bronchiolitis, the investigators will define the role of airway microbe-host interrelations in bronchiolitis severity and development of asthma by using metagenomic and metabolomic approaches. These efforts have the potential to offer a new avenue for bronchiolitis treatment and to provide potential targets for asthma primary prevention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI134940-03
Application #
9821733
Study Section
Infectious Diseases, Reproductive Health, Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions Study Section (IRAP)
Program Officer
Dong, Gang
Project Start
2017-12-01
Project End
2022-11-30
Budget Start
2019-12-01
Budget End
2020-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Stewart, Christopher J; Hasegawa, Kohei; Wong, Matthew C et al. (2018) Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Rhinovirus Bronchiolitis Are Associated With Distinct Metabolic Pathways. J Infect Dis 217:1160-1169
Hasegawa, K; Stewart, C J; Celedón, J C et al. (2018) Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D, nasopharyngeal airway metabolome, and bronchiolitis severity. Allergy 73:1135-1140
Hasegawa, K; Piedra, P A; Bauer, C S et al. (2018) Nasopharyngeal CCL5 in infants with severe bronchiolitis and risk of recurrent wheezing: A multi-center prospective cohort study. Clin Exp Allergy 48:1063-1067
Hasegawa, Kohei; Stewart, Christopher J; Celedón, Juan C et al. (2018) Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, metabolome, and bronchiolitis severity among infants-A multicenter cohort study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 29:441-445
Toivonen, Laura; Hasegawa, Kohei; Ajami, Nadim J et al. (2018) Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D, nasopharyngeal microbiota, and bronchiolitis severity. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 29:877-880