Antwerp citizen science project maps ‘nose flora’
An investigation by Antwerp scientists and supported by 100 volunteers shows that there are five different types of nose bacteria
Better treatments
A year ago 100 volunteers – all healthy adults between 18 and 65 – donated a sample from their mucous membrane to the endemic research group at UAntwerp. The group analysed the samples and labelled them according to the prevalent bacteria strains.
“We counted five groups of nose bacteria,” says professor Sarah Lebeer, who led the project. “We can now say that these five types represent a healthy nose flora.”
The analysis is an example of citizen science, in which ordinary citizens actively volunteer for scientific research projects. Now the team wants to investigate which bacteria play a major role in infections of the upper respiratory tract and of the nose, ear and throat cavities.
“In the long term we hope to develop new therapies that are more focused on these infections,” said Lebeer.
Photo: Ingimage
