That's right – your nose is home to an entire host of microorganisms, just like the rest of your body. The different types of 'good' or 'bad' bacteria specific to the nasal cavities might end up protecting you from certain health issues, or putting you more at risk of others.
The inspiration for this new study came from the mother of one of the researchers, who was having problems with headaches and chronic rhinosinusitis – a condition that causes pain and swelling in the sinuses and nasal cavity.
"My mother had tried many different treatments, but none worked," says microbiologist Sarah Lebeer, from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. "I was thinking it's a pity that I could not advise her some good bacteria or probiotics for the nose. No one had ever really studied it."