Wang Z, Hu X, Li Z, et al. - Researchers investigated the effect of novel coronavirus infection on the microbial composition in upper airway. They examined 44 COVID-19 patients (severe/critical: N = 8, non-severe: N = 36) using next generation sequencing of nasopharyngeal test paper. The nasopharyngeal test paper samples exhibited 38 kinds of bacteria, 10 kinds of viruses except SARS-CoV-2, nine kinds of fungi and three kinds of atypical pathogens. Severe and non-severe cases showed some difference in microbial composition in the upper airway. These results may aid in preventing opportunistic infection in severe patients.