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Airway microbiota across age and disease spectrum in cystic fibrosis

Edith T Zemanick1, Brandie D Wagner2,3, Charles E Robertson2

  • 1University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA edith.zemanick@childrenscolorado.org.

The European Respiratory Journal
|November 18, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The cystic fibrosis (CF) lung microbiota changes with age, with younger children showing nontraditional bacteria like Streptococcus, while older patients have classic CF pathogens. This microbial shift impacts airway inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting multiple organs, primarily the lungs.
  • The lung microbiota plays a crucial role in CF pathogenesis and disease progression.
  • Understanding the CF microbiota is essential for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) microbiota in pediatric and adult CF patients.
  • To investigate the relationship between the CF microbiota, airway inflammation, and disease status.
  • To compare the CF microbiota with that of pediatric disease controls.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 191 BALF samples from 146 CF patients and 45 disease controls across 13 CF centers.
  • 16S rDNA sequencing to determine total bacterial load and microbiota composition.
  • Correlation analysis between microbial diversity, specific taxa, and inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

  • CF microbiota composition varies significantly with age: younger (<2 years) CF patients show a predominance of nontraditional taxa (e.g., Streptococcus, Prevotella), while older (≥6 years) patients exhibit traditional CF pathogens (e.g., Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus).
  • Nontraditional dominant taxa were detected in 20% of CF BALF, and bacteria were identified in 24% of culture-negative samples.
  • Lower microbial diversity and reduced abundance of Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Veillonella were inversely associated with airway inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • The CF lung microbiota is age-dependent, with a distinct microbial profile in early-onset disease.
  • Nontraditional bacteria can be prevalent in CF, even in culture-negative samples, and may be inversely associated with inflammation.
  • These findings highlight the dynamic nature of the CF microbiota and its potential role in modulating airway inflammation.

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