Abstract:
Within this thesis we have reported novel findings which will contribute to a better understanding of the role the microbiota plays within the lungs of clinically diagnosed asthmatic patients. The prevalence of asthma is increasing in the western world with more than 300 million people worldwide believed to be affected by this chronic respiratory disorder. Through this thesis we have dissected the immune microbe dialogue at play within the asthmatic lung. The findings within this thesis are novel, and we feel add to recent discoveries within the field of microbiome research, with an emphasis on the potential contribution the lung microbiome may play in the pathogenesis of asthma.