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Longitudinal development of the airway microbiota in infants with cystic fibrosis

Bushra Ahmed1,2, Michael J Cox3, Leah Cuthbertson3

  • 1National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK. b.ahmed12@imperial.ac.uk.

Scientific Reports
|March 28, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Early airway microbiota in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) primarily features Streptococcus and Haemophilus species. Understanding these early microbial shifts is crucial for potential therapeutic targets in CF lung disease.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The pathogenesis of airway infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) remains incompletely understood.
  • Early identification of microbial changes in infancy is critical for potential therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To longitudinally investigate changes in the airway microbiota of infants with CF.
  • To identify early microbial shifts that may predict disease progression or be targeted therapeutically.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study followed 30 infants with CF diagnosed via newborn screening (NBS) for up to two years.
  • Collected 241 throat swabs as a surrogate for lower airway microbiota.
  • Utilized quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing for bacterial analysis.

Main Results:

  • Streptococcus spp. (55%) and Haemophilus spp. (12.5%) were the most prevalent genera and showed an inverse relationship.
  • Bacterial community (beta) diversity changed significantly with age (Bray Curtis r² = 0.15, P = 0.03).
  • Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were infrequently detected in early infancy.

Conclusions:

  • Early CF airway microbiota is dominated by Streptococcus and Haemophilus species.
  • These bacteria may play a significant role in early CF pathogenesis.
  • Further research is needed to determine if these microbes are protective or pathogenic, guiding treatment strategies.

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