Cystic Fibrosis Rapid Response: Translating Multi-omics Data into Clinically Relevant Information

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genomics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Pulmonary exacerbations are a primary cause of mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF).
• Effective management of polymicrobial infections is crucial for extending CF patient lifespan.
• Understanding microbial community dynamics aids in selecting optimal treatments for CF pulmonary exacerbations.

Observation:

• A novel CF rapid response (CFRR) strategy was developed to monitor viral and microbial communities during acute CF exacerbations.
• The CFRR employs a multi-omics approach, including viromics, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics.
• A case study detailed a fatal CF exacerbation with a rapid decline in lung function.

Findings:

• The CFRR strategy rapidly identified pathogenic shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) expressing Shiga toxin in a fatal CF exacerbation case.
• Multi-omics monitoring of the lung microbial community provided insights into complex disease dynamics.
• The study demonstrated the potential of CFRR in deconstructing complicated disease dynamics.

Implications:

• The CFRR strategy can guide clinicians in selecting alternative treatments for pulmonary exacerbations.
• Implementing CFRR in CF clinics may improve patient outcomes and extend lifespans.
• Rapid, multi-omics monitoring offers a pathway to enhance the quality of life for individuals with CF.