The respiratory tract microbiome (RTM) is a microbial ecosystem inhabiting different niches throughout the airway. A critical role for the RTM in dictating lung infection outcomes is underlined by recent efforts to identify community members benefiting respiratory tract health. Obligate anaerobes common in the oropharynx and lung such as Prevotella and Veillonella are associated with improved pneumonia outcomes and activate several immune defense pathways in the lower airway. Colonizers of the nasal cavity, including Corynebacterium and Dolosigranulum, directly impact the growth and virulence of lung pathogens, aligning with robust clinical correlations between their upper airway abundance and reduced respiratory tract infection risk. Here, we highlight recent work identifying respiratory tract bacteria that promote airway health and resilience against disease, with a focus on lung infections and the underlying mechanisms driving RTM-protective benefits.

呼吸道微生物组（RTM）是一个微生物生态系统，分布在整个气道的不同生态位中。最近确定有利于呼吸道健康的社区成员的努力强调了 RTM 在决定肺部感染结果方面的关键作用。口咽和肺部常见的专性厌氧菌，如普雷沃菌和韦荣菌，与改善肺炎结局有关，并激活下呼吸道的多种免疫防御途径。鼻腔的定植菌，包括棒状杆菌和多洛西颗粒菌，直接影响肺部病原体的生长和毒力，这与上呼吸道丰度和呼吸道感染风险降低之间的强大临床相关性相一致。在这里，我们重点介绍最近发现的呼吸道细菌的工作，这些细菌可以促进气道健康和抵御疾病的能力，重点是肺部感染和推动 RTM 保护作用的潜在机制。