title: Disordered microbial communities in asthmatic airways.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, England.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilty
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Helder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pedro
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bossley
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ervine
authors.forename: Len
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poulter
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pachter
authors.forename: Miriam F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: William O C
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Cookson
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S