Moraxaceae and Moraxella interact with the altered airway mycobiome in asthma

Compared with healthy individuals, asthma patients harboured a significantly greater airway bacterial and fungal α-diversity. Moraxaceae, Moraxella and Moraxella otu19 (bacteria) and Schizophyllaceae, Polyporaceae, Aspergillus, Schizophyllum and Candida (fungi) were increased in asthma airway. Moraxaceae, along with Schizophyllaceae, Polyporaceae and Candida, was positively associated with airway fungal α-diversity. Correlation networks revealed Moraxaceae and Moraxella as microbial “hubs” in asthma that had significantly negative connections with multiple bacterial communities such as Leptotrichiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Prevotella, Veillonella, Rothia and Leptotrichia, but positive interactions with fungal communities Schizophyllaceae, Polyporaceae, Candida and Meyerozyma.