# The Home Mycobiome and Childhood Asthma

> **NIH NIH R56** · HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CARE, INC. · 2020 · $481,084

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Early life exposures are known to alter the risk of asthma, a chronic disease of the airways that
affects 6 million children in the U.S. Environmental microbes may contain taxa that “prime” the
immune system to decrease asthma susceptibility, while other taxa may instead enhance
allergic disease response. Environmental microbiome studies have developed in parallel to
those of the human microbiome, with a spotlight on bacteria, and little to no emphasis on fungi.
Research into the role of environmental fungal communities (the “mycobiome”) in allergic
disease development represents an untapped domain with high potential knowledge gains,
given that fungal communities are rich sources of innate immune stimuli, allergens and
biologically active metabolites, the potency of which vary significantly by taxa. We hypothesize
that the relationship between early life exposure to the home fungal mycobiome and allergic
disease risk depends upon the specific taxonomic composition of the fungal community, its
capability to produce particular types of immune-stimulatory cell wall components, and its
production of secondary metabolites. For this study, we will use home environmental samples
(house dust) and longitudinal allergic disease outcome data from the The Epidemiology of
Home Allergens and Asthma Study (EHAAS) cohort. In specific aim 1, we will perform targeted
(ITS) sequencing to identify home fungal communities and their specific taxonomic members
associated with pediatric airway and allergic disease risk. In specific aim 2, we will relate gene
signatures of biologically active fungal cell wall components and fungal secondary metabolites
to respiratory and allergic disease outcomes. In specific aim 3, we will test “protective” fungal
taxa, protective metabolites and house dust extracts enriched for multiple protective
components in an immune cell in vitro model.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10229176
- **Project number:** 1R56AI150864-01
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CARE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** JOANNE ELAINE SORDILLO
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $481,084
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10229176

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10229176, The Home Mycobiome and Childhood Asthma (1R56AI150864-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10229176. Licensed CC0.

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