title: The nasal microbiota in health and disease: variation within and between subjects.
abstract: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects approximately 5% of the adult population in Western societies and severely reduces the patient's quality of life. The role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of this condition has not yet been established with certainty. However, recent reports of bacterial and fungal biofilms in CRS highlight a potential role for these microorganisms. In this study, 16S rRNA gene-targeted amplicon pyrosequencing and qPCR were used to determine the composition and abundance, respectively, of the sinus microbiota within 9 patients with CRS and 6 healthy individuals. Within-patient variability was also investigated by sampling from anterior nares, inferior turbinate, and middle meatus on each side of the sinuses. Our results indicate that more of the variation in bacterial composition can be explained by inter-personal differences, rather than sampling location or even disease status. In addition, bacterial community diversity was significantly lower in CRS samples compared to those from healthy subjects, whereas bacterial load was not associated with disease status. Although members of the genera Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus were prevalent in the majority of samples (including healthy subjects), the large amount of variation observed between individuals, particularly within the CRS cohort, suggests that an imbalance or dysbiosis in community structure could be the driving force behind the disease. Ultimately, understanding the causes of variation within the sinus microbiota may lead to more personalized treatment options for CRS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoggard
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Douglas
keywords: 16S rRNA gene; bacterial abundance; bacterial communities; bacterial diversity; chronic rhinosinusitis