Multi-omics Analyses of Airway Host-microbiome Interaction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Bronchiectasis Identify Potential Therapeutic Interventions

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis are common chronic respiratory diseases in China. COPD is characterized by irreversible lung function decline due to airway inflammation, emphysema and alveolar destruction. Bronchiectasis is characterized by permanent bronchiectasis, its main clinical symptoms are cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis and recurrent respiratory tract infections. The incidence and prevalence of bronchiectasis have assumed continuously grows in global. Airway microbiota, whose alterations play an important role in the occurrence and development of bronchiectasis, form a complex ecosystem interacted with host cells and various biotic and abiotic factors in the microenvironment. Additionally, mounting evidence suggests that the airway microbiome is associated with COPD phenotypes and endotypes, and that dysbiosis contributes to airway inflammation. However, the mechanisms remain poorly understood, owing to limited knowledge of microbial functional properties, metabolic activities and cross-talk with the host immune system. The investigators aim to collect sputum specimen and perform multi-omic analysis on patients with COPD and bronchiectasis in seven clinical centres in China.