Pyrosequencing Unveils Cystic Fibrosis Lung Microbiome Differences Associated with a Severe Lung Function Decline

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 29;11(6):e0156807. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156807. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Chronic airway infection is a hallmark feature of cystic fibrosis (CF) disease. In the present study, sputum samples from CF patients were collected and characterized by 16S rRNA gene-targeted approach, to assess how lung microbiota composition changes following a severe decline in lung function. In particular, we compared the airway microbiota of two groups of patients with CF, i.e. patients with a substantial decline in their lung function (SD) and patients with a stable lung function (S). The two groups showed a different bacterial composition, with SD patients reporting a more heterogeneous community than the S ones. Pseudomonas was the dominant genus in both S and SD patients followed by Staphylococcus and Prevotella. Other than the classical CF pathogens and the most commonly identified non-classical genera in CF, we found the presence of the unusual anaerobic genus Sneathia. Moreover, the oligotyping analysis revealed the presence of other minor genera described in CF, highlighting the polymicrobial nature of CF infection. Finally, the analysis of correlation and anti-correlation networks showed the presence of antagonism and ecological independence between members of Pseudomonas genus and the rest of CF airways microbiota, with S patients showing a more interconnected community in S patients than in SD ones. This population structure suggests a higher resilience of S microbiota with respect to SD, which in turn may hinder the potential adverse impact of aggressive pathogens (e.g. Pseudomonas). In conclusion, our findings shed a new light on CF airway microbiota ecology, improving current knowledge about its composition and polymicrobial interactions in patients with CF.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Cystic Fibrosis / microbiology*
  • Ecology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Lung / microbiology*
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Microbiota*
  • Middle Aged
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevotella
  • Pseudomonas
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sputum / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants from the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation (FCC) (http://www.fibrosicisticaricerca.it/) to A.B. [Project FFC #8/2012 (with the contribution of “Delegazione FFC di Latina”, “Delegazione FFC di Imola”, “Delegazione FFC di Cecina”, “Associazione Trentina FC onlus in ricordo di Vanessa Weber”, and “Associazione Davide e Guido-Insieme Fibrosi Cistica Trust Onlus in ricordo di Katia Zattoni”) and Project FFC #10/2014 (with the contribution of “Delegazione FFC di Villa D'Almè, Bergamo”, “Gruppo di Sostegno FFC di Reggello, Firenze”, “Gruppo di Sostegno FFC di Lainate”, and “Delegazione FFC di Verbania e V.C.O”)]. G.B., P.P., L.L. were supported by grants awarded by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.