title: Paired analysis of the microbiota of surface mucus and whole-tissue specimens in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains uncertain. Recent evidence suggests that bacteria are able to establish microcolonies within the underlying mucosa. However, to date there has been no systematic comparison of bacterial community composition and diversity in the surface mucosa with that of the underlying tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired swabs and whole-tissue samples were collected from the middle meatus of 9 patients with CRS undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. The bacterial composition and diversity of the samples were determined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bacterial communities of both swabs and tissues were dominated by known residents of the sinonasal cavity such as Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Prevotella, and Peptoniphilus. Although bacterial diversity (richness) did not differ between the 2 groups of samples, there were significant differences in the composition of bacterial communities. Molecular analyses revealed a large amount of interpersonal variation between patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Swab and tissue samples revealed similar bacterial diversity to each other and to that of other microbiota studies reported in the CRS literature. However, bacterial composition was significantly different between the 2 sample types, even though the tissue biopsies also comprise bacteria from the surface. We speculate that the bacteria on the surface seed the underlying tissue via the damaged epithelium in CRS patients, which over time develops into a distinct bacterial community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Raymond J T
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kim
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: 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
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D044822:Biodiversity; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: amplicon sequencing; bacterial 16S rRNA gene; chronic inflammation; chronic rhinosinusitis; intramucosal bacteria; microbiota