The Gut-Lung Axis and Respiratory Illness in Children

The gut-lung axis is a postulated bi-directional connection between the gut and lung microbiomes where changes at one site can induce changes in another. Although pre-clinical evidence exists, the clinical evidence, particularly in paediatric patients is currently lacking. Changes in the gut microbiome in young children have been noted prior to asthma development although concomitant investigations into the gut and lungs have not yet been made in children with asthma. Furthermore, a causal relationship between IBD and respiratory disease has recently been noted. Associations have also been made between early-life environmental factors such as the protective effects of breastfeeding on respiratory health which hints at connections between dietary intake and respiratory health, possibly via the gut-lung axis. The investigators aim to investigate the gut-lung axis in children via a multi-omics approach.

Part A (cross-sectional): The investigators aim to investigate correlations between the gut and lung microbiome in 3 cohorts of children aged 0-16 attending the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow: Respiratory patients, GI patients and Orthopaedic patients. Although this is a hypothesis-generating study, the investigators would like to validate this bi-directional link between the gut and the lung microbiomes. The investigators hypothesise that children with respiratory disease should have a disturbed gut microbiome and children with GI disease should present with a disturbed respiratory microbiome (assessed ecologically and functionally via metabolic and molecular biology analyses). Children receiving orthopaedic procedures without active signs of respiratory or GI issues will serve as the benchmark of a healthy 'gut-lung axis'. The investigators will also aim to investigate potential mechanisms of communication between the gut and lungs in blood via immunological, metabolic, and molecular analyses. Dietary analysis, relevant clinical data and a health questionnaire will be completed by children. Additionally, a 3-day estimated weighed food diary will be completed by the participants and a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) in children aged 3 and above will be used to correlate dietary intake to biological date obtained relating to the gut-lung axis.

Part B (longitudinal): Investigating the Gut-Lung axis in asthma pre and post biologics therapy. The investigators aim to investigate connections between the airway and gut-microbiome, blood and responsiveness to patients receiving biologics therapy (as part of their standard of care). Two cohorts of children will be recruited: children with asthma/wheeze not indicated for biologics and children with asthma/wheeze indicated for biologics. The investigators aim to assess whether biologics modulate the gut-lung axis by sampling airways, stool and blood from children at two time points (before and after starting therapy, compared to the no therapy group). Nutritional data and relevant clinical data will be collected.

Inclusion criteria

• Any infant/child/young person admitted to the RHC, Glasgow for an elective bronchoscopy or GI endoscopy.
• Any infant/child attending for an emergency/elective orthopaedic operation without active respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions or receiving treatment for either condition. (Age range birth to 16 years for all groups recruited).
• Any child attending respiratory department at RHC who can induce sputum and is having a blood sample taken, with latter part of standard of care.
• Any infant/child/young person admitted to RHC for a clinical care appointment with Asthma/wheeze before commencement of biologics therapy (treatment group).
• Any child admitted to RHC with asthma/wheeze not indicated for biologic therapy (asthma control group).

Exclusion criteria

• Use of antibiotics by the day of admission or have used antibiotics in the previous month (unless prophylactic antibiotics > 1 month use).
• Any person 17 years old and above.
• Any child known to be infected with, or at high risk of having had exposure to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses
• . Any child and/or parent/guardian who cannot understand the English language where consent would be unethical.
• Any child with Asthma currently receiving Biologics therapy (unless recruited via bronchoscopy route).