Microbial modulation of vocal fold mucosal injury
We investigate changes in the laryngeal bacterial community associated with vocal fold epithelial injury and repair. Laryngeal lavage samples were collected from conventionally raised and conventionalized mice following naphthalene-induced epithelial injury or vehicle control treatment at multiple timepoints during the repair process. Bacterial community composition was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to examine injury- and repair-associated variation in the resident laryngeal microbiota. These data complement host-response analyses aimed at understanding the role of resident microbiota in vocal fold epithelial repair.