However, sputum samples from patients with asthma had a significantly higher proportion of Proteobacteria than samples from nonasthmatic individuals, accounting for 37% versus 15% of the bacterial community.
Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were present in higher proportions in samples from nonasthmatic individuals than in those from patients with asthma, at 63% versus 47% and 14% versus 10%, respectively.