Disordered microbial communities in asthmatic airways.
BACKGROUND
A rich microbial environment in infancy protects against asthma [1], [2] and infections precipitate asthma exacerbations [3]. We compared the airway microbiota at three levels in adult patients with asthma, the related condition of COPD, and controls. We also studied bronchial lavage from asthmatic children and controls.


RESULTS
We identified 5,054 16S rRNA bacterial sequences from 43 subjects, detecting >70% of species present. The bronchial tree was not sterile, and contained a mean of 2,000 bacterial genomes per cm(2) surface sampled. Pathogenic Proteobacteria, particularly Haemophilus spp., were much more frequent in bronchi of adult asthmatics or patients with COPD than controls. We found similar highly significant increases in Proteobacteria in asthmatic children. Conversely, Bacteroidetes, particularly Prevotella spp., were more frequent in controls than adult or child asthmatics or COPD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show the bronchial tree to contain a characteristic microbiota, and suggest that this microbiota is disturbed in asthmatic airways.
Hilty
Markus
M
National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, England.
Burke
Conor
C
Pedro
Helder
H
Cardenas
Paul
P
Bush
Andy
A
Bossley
Cara
C
Davies
Jane
J
Ervine
Aaron
A
Poulter
Len
L
Pachter
Lior
L
Moffatt
Miriam F
MF
Cookson
William O C
WO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000382:microbiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S