Metagenomic shotgun sequencing reveals the enrichment of Salmonella and Mycobacterium in larynx due to prolonged ethanol exposure

Ethanol may participate in the inflammation and tumor progression by affecting the composition of the laryngeal microbiota. Here, we applied the metagenomic shotgun sequencing instead of 16 S rRNA sequencing method to identify the laryngeal microbiota under ethanol exposure. Salmonella enterica and Mycobacterium marinum are two dominant species that may play a role in the reconstruction of the laryngeal microenvironment, as their local abundance increases following exposure to ethanol. The metabolic function is most evidently impacted, and several potential metabolic pathways could be associated with alterations in microbiota composition. These findings could help us better understand the impact of prolonged ethanol exposure on the microbial composition and functionality in the larynx.