IMPACT OF BRONCHIOLITIS ON GUT MICROBIOTA AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR IMMUNE FUNCTION AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN PEDIATRIC ATHLETES

Abstract

Background: The link between intestinal flora and respiratory infections like bronchiolitis in children has been underexplored. Utilizing 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology, this study investigates how bronchiolitis affects the gut microbiota and potentially impacts the physical and immune health of pediatric athletes. Methods: We studied 20 children with bronchiolitis and 20 healthy controls, matched by age and gender, collecting 2g of stool from each for DNA extraction. Using the Illumina MiSeq platform, we sequenced the V4 region of the DNA to analyze microbial changes. Bioinformatics tools were employed to examine alterations in the fecal flora structure. Results: Significant differences were found in both the diversity and structure of intestinal flora between children with bronchiolitis and healthy controls (P<0.05). The diversity was notably reduced in the bronchiolitis group, with increased abundance of Proteobacteria and decreased abundance of Actinomycota and Firmicutes (P<0.05). At the genus level, increases in Shigella and decreases in Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Veillonococcus were observed in the case group (P<0.05). Functional prediction analyses indicated differing fecal flora potentials between the groups. Conclusions: The study confirms that bronchiolitis correlates with significant changes in the gut microbiota of children, marked by shifts in microbial diversity and composition. These alterations could influence the immune system and physical development, particularly in pediatric athletes, affecting their health and sports performance. This underscores the importance of monitoring and potentially modifying gut health in this population to support overall well-being and athletic performance.