There has been long-standing interest in the role of the microbiome in asthma pathogenesis. The airways are known to be constantly colonized by microorganisms that engage with the host immune system. Early studies determined that the microbiome of the lower airways is distinct in patients with and without asthma.1 Colonization of the hypopharynx of neonates by similar bacteria was later associated with increased risk of recurrent wheeze and asthma diagnosis in childhood.2 These studies elucidate the need to understand the role of the microbiome and microbiome-host interactions in the development of asthma and its multiple phenotypes, a challenging endeavor given the heterogeneous and multifactorial nature of asthma.