Exploratory metaproteomic profiling of the nasal microbiota in a pilot cohort of mothers and infants

Abstract Background The nasal passages’ microbial communities are vital to human health and can influence infection processes. In this study, ten nasal samples were obtained, five from mothers and five from their 1- to 2-year-old infants. We studied the proteins of the nasal passage microbiota using the metaproteomic technique. The ten nasal samples collected were initially subjected to in-solution digestion, followed by a series of purification steps to ensure sample quality. Subsequent analysis was performed using LC–MS/MS, and the workflow was finalized with comprehensive data processing and bioinformatic analysis utilizing the UniProt database. The preliminary observations indicated that eight proteins showed differential abundance between the maternal and infant cohorts. Results The eight proteins detected in our exploratory study were found to be of particular importance, as they may be implicated in bacterial pathogenesis, can represent potential drug targets, and may be associated with pathways related to drug resistance. These proteins include amidohydrolase, SLEI domain protein (pf07620 family), histidine kinase (EC 2.7.13.3), RND transporter, GLPGLI family protein, penicillin-binding protein, MFS transporter, and a protein kinase domain-containing protein. Conclusions These observations provide preliminary evidence of how metaproteomics can elucidate the protein interactions within bacterial communities and their interactions with the host, potentially advancing our understanding of infection processes and guiding the development of targeted therapies.