Co-occurrence network analysis reveals novel associations between the neonatal airway microbiome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk: an observational, population-based study

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most common chronic lung disease in preterm infants. While its pathogenesis is incompletely understood, the role of the early respiratory microbe is increasingly recognized. Previous studies have largely focused on individual pathogenic taxa, overlooking the complex ecological interactions within microbial communities. Our analysis reveals that the architecture of microbial co-occurrence networks in the neonatal airway varies significantly with BPD severity. Notably, network complexity decreased markedly as BPD severity increased. We identified specific keystone taxa uniquely associated with disease outcomes, suggesting that microbial ecosystem stability rather than individual species may be a critical factor in BPD pathogenesis. These findings shift the focus from single microbes to the stability of the microbial ecosystem as a novel risk factor for severe BPD, offering new avenues for risk stratification and early intervention.