Roles of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the Progression of Respiratory Diseases.

TANG Yi; WEI Mei-Rong; DIAO Xue-Juan; GAO Hui

Journal of Microbes and Infections ›› 2025, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (2) : 120-128.

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Abstract

The interaction between microorganisms and the human host is complex. Fusobacterium nucleatum, a commensal bacterium in the human body, can lead to chronic inflammatory responses under pathological conditions, playing an important role in plaque formation and bacterial pathogenicity through its various adhesion proteins. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown a link between periodontitis and respiratory diseases, with common periodontal pathogens detected in samples from various respiratory diseases. These pathogens can promote the adhesion and invasion of respiratory pathogens, enhance inflammatory responses and apoptosis in respiratory epithelial cells, induce mucin overexpression, and disrupt the balance of the respiratory immune system, thereby influencing the occurrence and development of respiratory diseases. In this review, we examine the association between Fusobacterium nucleatum and respiratory diseases (mainly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung infectious diseases, lung cancer, and bronchitis) and summarize the mechanisms and molecular changes by which Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes the progression of related diseases. This provides new insights into the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases and offers new ideas for developing treatment and prevention strategies for these conditions.

Key words

Fusobacterium nucleatum / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) / Pneumonia / lung cancer

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Roles of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the Progression of Respiratory Diseases.[J]. Journal of Microbes and Infections. 2025, 20(2): 120-128

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