Nasal Fungi May Be Aggravating Your Allergies

Allergic rhinitis and asthma, often linked, can severely impact respiratory health. Searching for better treatments, scientists analyzed the nasal mycobiome—the community of fungi in the nose. Their study revealed that individuals with allergic rhinitis, with or without asthma, have distinct fungal compositions compared to healthy individuals. This suggests chronic respiratory conditions may disrupt nasal fungi balance, potentially opening new avenues for early detection and treatment.

In Portugal, about one in four adults suffer from allergic rhinitis, a condition that frequently coexists with asthma. An international research team discovered that affected individuals have a more diverse and altered fungal community in their nasal passages than healthy people.

“We found significantly higher fungal diversity and distinct fungal structures in allergic rhinitis samples,” said Dr. Luís Delgado from the University of Porto. “This suggests allergic rhinitis may alter the nasal microbiome.”

The Study: Mapping Nasal Fungi

To investigate, researchers studied 214 participants from an immunology and asthma clinic. Among them, 155 had both allergic rhinitis and asthma, 47 had allergic rhinitis alone, and 12 had only asthma. A control group of 125 healthy individuals provided a baseline comparison.

Using nasal swabs, scientists extracted fungal DNA and identified species through sequencing. Network analysis helped them understand relationships between fungal communities and their potential roles in disease.

The study found two dominant fungal families—Ascomycota and Basidiomycota—with 14 genera making up most of the nasal mycobiome. Some of these fungi are known allergens or opportunistic pathogens, suggesting the nasal cavity may harbor fungi linked to allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Researchers also discovered that individuals with both allergic rhinitis and asthma had stronger fungal interactions than those with allergic rhinitis alone or healthy controls. This could mean that fungi influence the immune environment in the nose.

A Potential Path to Treatment

Patients with respiratory diseases showed significantly different fungal profiles than healthy individuals, but no major differences were found between allergic rhinitis and asthma groups. This suggests a shared fungal influence across these conditions.

Additionally, the study identified an overabundance of metabolic pathways related to 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) production, essential for DNA and RNA synthesis. If confirmed in further research, targeting AIR could lead to new diagnostic tools or treatments.

While this study provides valuable insights, limitations exist. Researchers could not control for disease severity, treatment history, or track changes over time. Future longitudinal studies could determine whether fungi actively drive respiratory diseases and pinpoint specific harmful species.

“Addressing these clinical variables would be a great follow-up if we secure funding,” Delgado noted. “For now, our findings lay the groundwork for others to explore the link between nasal fungi and respiratory health.”

Read Original Article: Scitechdaily

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