Multicenter analysis of sputum microbiota in tuberculosis patients

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Genomics

Background:

• The human lung microbiota's role in tuberculosis (TB) pathogenesis and treatment response remains unclear.
• Previous studies have yielded inconsistent findings regarding the lung microbiota's composition in TB patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the lung microbiota composition in patients with active tuberculosis compared to those with other lung diseases and healthy individuals.
• To identify potential microbiota-based biomarkers for TB diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Multicenter study involving sputum sample collection from TB patients, non-TB lung disease patients, and healthy donors across Switzerland, Italy, and Bangladesh.
• Bacterial 16S rDNA gene amplification and high-throughput sequencing.
• Comprehensive bioinformatic analyses to assess microbial community structure and diversity.

Main Results:

• Significant inter-individual variability in lung microbiota composition was observed, with patient-specific flora.
• No consistent microbial signature differentiating TB patients from controls was identified across different geographical settings.
• Anti-tuberculosis therapy showed minimal impact on overall microbiota diversity, suggesting limited utility for treatment follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The lung microbiota does not present a reliable signature for diagnosing active tuberculosis.
• The lung microbiota's composition is highly variable and influenced by factors beyond TB infection.
• Anti-tuberculosis therapy does not significantly alter lung microbiota diversity, making it unsuitable for monitoring treatment response.