biostudies-literatureHurst JHNICHD NIH HHSNIAID NIH HHSDuke Microbiome Center, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and the Translating Duke Health Children’s Health and Discovery InitiativeNIH Career Development AwardNational Institutes of HealthDuke Microbiome Center, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, and the Translating Duke Health Children's Health and Discovery InitiativeNIH HHSNational Science Foundatione928-e937https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8903463biostudies-literatureUnknown75(1)<h4>Background</h4>Children are less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and typically have milder illness courses than adults, but the factors underlying these age-associated differences are not well understood. The upper respiratory microbiome undergoes substantial shifts during childhood and is increasingly recognized to influence host defense against respiratory pathogens. Thus, we sought to identify upper respiratory microbiome features associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility and illness severity.<h4>Methods</h4>We collected clinical data and nasopharyngeal swabs from 285 children, adolescents, and young adults (<21 years) with documented SARS-CoV-2 exposure. We used 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to characterize the nasopharyngeal microbiome and evaluated for age-adjusClinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of AmericaAge-Related Changes in the Nasopharyngeal Microbiome Are Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection and Symptoms Among Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.PMC8903463T32-HD094671T32GM008555K23-AI135090DGE-1545220K23 AI135090T32 HD094671Moody MAMcCumber AWKelly MSHurst JHRodriguez JLugo DJGurley TCAquino JNTurner NAClark JSWoods CWRawls JFRotta ATPfeiffer TSDenny TNHeston SMfalseAge-Related Changes in the Nasopharyngeal Microbiome Are Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection and Symptoms Among Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.<h4>Background</h4>Children are less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and typically have milder illness courses than adults, but the factors underlying these age-associated differences are not well understood. The upper respiratory microbiome undergoes substantial shifts during childhood and is increasingly recognized to influence host defense against respiratory pathogens. Thus, we sought to identify upper respiratory microbiome features associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility and illness severity.<h4>Methods</h4>We collected clinical data and nasopharyngeal swabs from 285 children, adolescents, and young adults (<21 years) with documented SARS-CoV-2 exposure. We used 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to characterize the nasopharyngeal microbiome and evaluated for age-adjus2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Aug2025-04-04T14:57:23.412Z2024-11-20T05:54:05.21ZS-EPMC89034633524704710.1093/cid/ciac184