Publications
305 results found
Cuthbertson L, Löber U, Ish-Horowicz JS, et al., 2024, Genomic attributes of airway commensal bacteria and mucosa, Communications Biology, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2399-3642
Microbial communities at the airway mucosal barrier are conserved and highly ordered, in likelihood reflecting co-evolution with human host factors. Freed of selection to digest nutrients, the airway microbiome underpins cognate management of mucosal immunity and pathogen resistance. We show here the initial results of systematic culture and whole-genome sequencing of the thoracic airway bacteria, identifying 52 novel species amongst 126 organisms that constitute 75% of commensals typically present in heathy individuals. Clinically relevant genes encode antimicrobial synthesis, adhesion and biofilm formation, immune modulation, iron utilisation, nitrous oxide (NO) metabolism and sphingolipid signalling. Using whole-genome content we identify dysbiotic features that may influence asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We match isolate gene content to transcripts and metabolites expressed late in airway epithelial differentiation, identifying pathways to sustain host interactions with microbiota. Our results provide a systematic basis for decrypting interactions between commensals, pathogens, and mucosa in lung diseases of global significance.
Eastwood M, Marc ST, Gao X, et al., 2023, Malignant Mesothelioma subtyping via sampling driven multiple instance prediction on tissue image and cell morphology data, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MEDICINE, Vol: 143, ISSN: 0933-3657
Cardenas PA, Cox MJ, Willis-Owen SA, et al., 2023, Delayed acquisition of airway commensals in antibiotic naïve children and its relationship with wheezing in rural Ecuador, FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY, Vol: 4
Tonder AJV, Ellis HC, Churchward CP, et al., 2023, <i>Mycobacterium</i><i> avium</i> complex genomics and transmission in a London hospital, EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, Vol: 61, ISSN: 0903-1936
Davies J, Hughes D, Rosenthal M, et al., 2023, An invisible threat? Aspergillus positive cultures and co-infecting bacteria in airway sample, Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Vol: 22, Pages: 320-326, ISSN: 1569-1993
BackgroundAspergillus fumigatus (Af) infection is associated with poor lung health in chronic suppurative lung diseases but often goes undetected. We hypothesised that inhibition of Af growth by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) increases the frequency of false-negative Af culture in co-infected people. Using a substantial group of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway samples, we assessed the relationship between Af and bacterial pathogens, additionally comparing fungal culture with next-generation sequencing.MethodsFrequency of co-culture was assessed for 44,554 sputum/BAL cultures, from 1,367 CF patients between the years 2010–2020. In a subgroup, Internal Transcribed Spacer-2 (ITS2) fungal sequencing was used to determine sequencing-positive, culture-negative (S+/C-) rates.ResultsPa+ samples were nearly 40% less likely (P<0.0001) than Pa- samples to culture Af, an effect that was also seen with some other Gram-negative isolates. This impact varied with Pa density and appeared to be moderated by Staphylococcus aureus co-infection. Sequencing identified Af-S+/C- for 40.1% of tested sputa. Samples with Pa had higher rates of Af-S+/C- (49.3%) than those without (35.7%; RR 1.38 [1.02–1.93], P<0.05). Af-S+/C- rate was not changed by other common bacterial infections. Pa did not affect the S+/C- rates of Candida, Exophiala or Scedosporium.ConclusionsPa/ Af co-positive cultures are less common than expected in CF. Our findings suggest an Af-positive culture is less likely in the presence of Pa. Interpretation of negative cultures should be cautious, particularly in Pa-positive samples, and a companion molecular diagnostic could be useful. Further work investigating mechanisms, alternative detection techniques and other chronic suppurative lung diseases is needed.
Ellis HC, Moffatt MF, Churchward C, et al., 2023, Molecular assessment of mycobacterial burden in the treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease, ERJ OPEN RESEARCH, Vol: 9
Reynolds CJ, Sisodia R, Barber C, et al., 2023, What role for asbestos in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? Findings from the IPF job exposures case-control study, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE, Vol: 80, Pages: 97-103, ISSN: 1351-0711
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Hull RC, Huang JTJ, Barton AK, et al., 2022, Sputum Proteomics in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease, CHEST, Vol: 161, Pages: 1180-1191, ISSN: 0012-3692
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Shah A, Hull J, Moffatt M, et al., 2022, Evidence of immunometabolic dysregulation and airway dysbiosis in athletes susceptible to respiratory illness, EBioMedicine, Vol: 79, Pages: 1-16, ISSN: 2352-3964
BackgroundRespiratory tract infection (RTI) is a leading cause of training and in-competition time-loss in athlete health. The immune factors associated with RTI susceptibility remain unclear. In this study, we prospectively characterise host immune factors in elite athletes exhibiting RTI susceptibility.MethodsPeripheral blood lymphocyte flow cytometry phenotyping and 16S rRNA microbial sequencing of oropharyngeal swabs was performed in a prospective elite athlete cohort study (n = 121). Mass cytometry, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) stimulation and plasma metabolic profiling was performed in age-matched highly-susceptible (HS) athletes (≥4RTI in last 18 months) (n = 22) compared to non-susceptible (NS) (≤1RTI in last 18 months) (n = 23) athletes. Findings were compared to non-athletic healthy controls (HC) (n = 19).FindingsAthletes (n = 121) had a reduced peripheral blood memory T regulatory cell compartment compared to HC (p = 0.02 (95%CI:0.1,1.0)) and reduced upper airway bacterial biomass compared to HC (p = 0.032, effect size r = 0.19). HS athletes (n = 22) had lower circulating memory T regulatory cells compared to NS (n = 23) athletes (p = 0.005 (95%CI:-1.5,-0.15)) and HC (p = 0.002 (95%CI:-1.9,-0.3) with PBMC microbial stimulation assays revealing a T-helper 2 skewed immune response compared to HC. Plasma metabolomic profiling showed differences in sphingolipid pathway metabolites (a class of lipids important in infection and inflammation regulation) in HS compared to NS athletes and HC, with sphingomyelin predictive of RTI infection susceptibility (p = 0.005).InterpretationAthletes susceptible to RTI have reduced circulating memory T regulatory cells, metabolic dysregulation of the sphingolipid pathway and evidence of upper airway bacterial dysbiosis.FundingThis study was funded by the English Institute of Sport (UK).
Nastase A, Mandal A, Lu SK, et al., 2022, Integrated genomics point to immune vulnerabilities in pleural mesothelioma (vol 11, 19138, 2021), SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, Vol: 12, ISSN: 2045-2322
Singanayagam A, Footitt J, Marczynski M, et al., 2022, Airway mucins promote immunopathology in virus-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease., Journal of Clinical Investigation, Vol: 132, Pages: 1-16, ISSN: 0021-9738
The respiratory tract surface is protected from inhaled pathogens by a secreted layer of mucus rich in mucin glycoproteins. Abnormal mucus accumulation is a cardinal feature of chronic respiratory diseases but the relationship between mucus and pathogens during exacerbations is poorly understood. We identified elevations in airway MUC5AC and MUC5B concentrations during spontaneous and experimentally-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. MUC5AC was more sensitive to changes in expression during exacerbation and was therefore more predictably associated with virus load, inflammation, symptom severity, decrements in lung function, and secondary bacterial infections. MUC5AC was functionally related to inflammation as Muc5ac-deficient (Muc5ac-/-) mice had attenuated rhinovirus (RV)-induced airway inflammation and exogenous MUC5AC glycoprotein administration augmented inflammatory responses and increased release of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in mice and human airway epithelial cell cultures. Hydrolysis of ATP suppressed MUC5AC augmentation of rhinovirus-induced inflammation in mice. Therapeutic suppression of mucin production using an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist ameliorated immunopathology in a mouse COPD exacerbation model. The coordinated virus induction of MUC5AC and MUC5B suggests that non-Th2 mechanisms trigger mucin hypersecretion during exacerbations. Our data identifies a pro-inflammatory role for MUC5AC during viral infection and suggest that MUC5AC inhibition may ameliorate COPD exacerbations.
Cookson W, Moffatt M, Rapeport G, et al., 2022, A pandemic lesson for global lung diseases: exacerbations are preventable., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 205, Pages: 1271-1280, ISSN: 1073-449X
A dramatic global reduction in the incidence of common seasonal respiratory viral infections has resulted from measures to limit the transmission of SARS2-Cov-19 during the pandemic . This has been accompanied by falls reaching 50% internationally in the incidence of acute exacerbations of pre-existing chronic respiratory diseases that include asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF). At the same time, the incidence of acute bacterial pneumonia and sepsis has fallen steeply world-wide. Such findings demonstrate the profound impact of common respiratory viruses on the course of these global illnesses. Reduced transmission of common respiratory bacterial pathogens and their interactions with viruses appear also as central factors. This review summarises pandemic changes in exacerbation rates of asthma, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and pneumonia. We draw attention to the substantial body of knowledge about respiratory virus infections in these conditions, and that it has not yet translated into clinical practice. Now the large-scale of benefits that could be gained by managing these pathogens is unmistakable, we suggest the field merits substantial academic and industrial investment. We consider how pandemic-inspired measures for prevention and treatment of common infections should become a cornerstone for managing respiratory diseases. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
White AD, Sibley L, Sarfas C, et al., 2022, Influence of Aerosol Delivered BCG Vaccination on Immunological and Disease Parameters Following SARS-CoV-2 Challenge in Rhesus Macaques, FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, Vol: 12, ISSN: 1664-3224
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van Tonder AJ, Ellis HC, Churchward CP, et al., 2022, <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> complex (MAC) genomics and transmission in a London hospital
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental microorganisms and opportunistic pathogens in individuals with pre-existing lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis (BX). Whilst recent studies of <jats:italic>Mycobacterium abscessus</jats:italic> have identified transmission within single CF centres as well as nationally and globally, transmission of other NTM species is less well studied. We sequenced 996 Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) isolates from CF and non-CF patients at the Royal Brompton Hospital (RBH), London. Genomic analysis was used to analyse local transmission. Epidemiological links were identified from patient records. These and previously published genomes were used to characterise global population structures. Analysis of the three predominant MAC species identified putative transmission clusters that contained patients with CF, BX and other lung conditions, although few epidemiological links could be identified. For <jats:italic>M. avium</jats:italic>, lineages were largely limited to single countries, whilst for <jats:italic>M. chimaera</jats:italic>, global transmission clusters previously associated with heater cooler units (HCUs) were found. However, the immediate ancestor of the lineage causing the major HCU-associated outbreak was a lineage already circulating in patients with pre-existing lung conditions. CF and non-CF patients shared transmission chains even in the presence of CF patient-focussed hospital control measures, although the lack of epidemiological links suggested that most transmission is indirect and may involve environmental intermediates or else asymptomatic carriage in the wider population. The major HCU-associated <jats:italic>M. chimaera</jats:italic> lineage being derived from an already circulating lineage, suggests that HCUs, while being responsible for a major global
Cuthbertson L, James P, Habibi MS, et al., 2022, Resilience of the respiratory microbiome in controlled adult RSV challenge study, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 59, ISSN: 0903-1936
Ahmed B, Cox MJ, Cuthbertson L, et al., 2021, Comparison of the airway microbiota in children with chronic suppurative lung disease, BMJ Open Respiratory Research, Vol: 8, Pages: 1-10, ISSN: 2052-4439
Rationale:The airway microbiota is important in chronic suppurative lung diseases (CSLD), such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). This comparison has not previously been described but is important because difference between the two diseases may relate to the differing prognoses and lead to pathological insights and potentially, new treatments. Objectives:To compare the longitudinal development of the airway microbiota in children with PCD to that of CF and relate this to age and clinical status. Methods:Sixty-two age-matched children (age range 0.5–17 years) with PCD or CF (n=31 in each group) were recruited prospectively and followed for 1.1 years. Throat swabs or sputum as well as clinical information were collected at routine clinical appointments. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed. Measurements and Main Results:The microbiota was highly individual and more diverse in PCD and differed in community composition when compared with CF. Whilst Streptococcus was the most abundant genus in both conditions, Pseudomonas was more abundant in CF with Haemophilus more abundant in PCD (Padj=0.0005). In PCD only, an inverse relationship was seen in the relative abundance of Streptococcus and Haemophilus with age. Conclusions:Bacterial community composition differs between children with PCD and those with CF. Pseudomonas is more prevalent in CF and Haemophilus in PCD, at least until infection with Pseudomonas supervenes. Interactions between organisms, particularly members of Haemophilus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas genera appear important. Study of the interactions between these organisms may lead to new therapies or risk stratification.
Cuthbertson L, Turner SEG, Jackson A, et al., 2021, ELITE ATHLETES SUSCEPTIBLE TO RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION ARE CHARACTERISED BY REDUCED CIRCULATING MEMORY T REGULATORY CELLS, UPPER AIRWAY MICROBIAL DYSBIOSIS AND DYSREGULATION OF SPHINGOLIPID METABOLISM, Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: A61-A62, ISSN: 0040-6376
Zhu Z, Li J, Si J, et al., 2021, A large-scale genome-wide association analysis of lung function in the Chinese population identifies novel loci and highlights shared genetic aetiology with obesity, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 58, Pages: 1-16, ISSN: 0903-1936
Background Lung function is a heritable complex phenotype with obesity being one of its important risk factors. However, knowledge of their shared genetic basis is limited. Most genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for lung function have been based on European populations, limiting the generalisability across populations. Large-scale lung function GWASs in other populations are lacking.Methods We included 100 285 subjects from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB). To identify novel loci for lung function, single-trait GWAS analyses were performed on forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC in the CKB. We then performed genome-wide cross-trait analysis between lung function and obesity traits (body mass index (BMI), BMI-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio and BMI-adjusted waist circumference) to investigate the shared genetic effects in the CKB. Finally, polygenic risk scores (PRSs) of lung function were developed in the CKB and their interaction with BMI's association on lung function were examined. We also conducted cross-trait analysis in parallel with the CKB using up to 457 756 subjects from the UK Biobank (UKB) for replication and investigation of ancestry-specific effects.Results We identified nine genome-wide significant novel loci for FEV1, six for FVC and three for FEV1/FVC in the CKB. FEV1 and FVC showed significant negative genetic correlation with obesity traits in both the CKB and UKB. Genetic loci shared between lung function and obesity traits highlighted important biological pathways, including cell proliferation, embryo, skeletal and tissue development, and regulation of gene expression. Mendelian randomisation analysis suggested significant negative causal effects of BMI on FEV1 and on FVC in both the CKB and UKB. Lung function PRSs significantly modified the effect of change in BMI on change in lung function during an average follow-up of 8 years.Conclusion This large-scale GWAS of lung function identified novel loci
Nastase A, Mandal A, Lu SK, et al., 2021, Integrated genomics point to immune vulnerabilities in pleural mesothelioma, Scientific Reports, Vol: 11, ISSN: 2045-2322
Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy with limited effective therapies. In order to identify therapeutic targets, we integrated SNP genotyping, sequencing and transcriptomics from tumours and low-passage patient-derived cells. Previously unrecognised deletions of SUFU locus (10q24.32), observed in 21% of 118 tumours, resulted in disordered expression of transcripts from Hedgehog pathways and the T-cell synapse including VISTA. Co-deletion of Interferon Type I genes and CDKN2A was present in half of tumours and was a predictor of poor survival. We also found previously unrecognised deletions in RB1 in 26% of cases and show sub-micromolar responses to downstream PLK1, CHEK1 and Aurora Kinase inhibitors in primary mesothelioma cells. Defects in Hippo pathways that included RASSF7 amplification and NF2 or LATS1/2 mutations were present in 50% of tumours and were accompanied by micromolar responses to the YAP1 inhibitor Verteporfin. Our results suggest new therapeutic avenues in mesothelioma and indicate targets and biomarkers for immunotherapy.
Hull R, Huang JT-J, Dicker A, et al., 2021, Sputum proteomics of CF, BE and COPD with or without NTM infections, Publisher: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD, ISSN: 0903-1936
Cookson W, Turek E, Moffatt M, et al., 2021, Airway microbial communities, smoking and asthma in a general population sample, EBioMedicine, Vol: 71, Pages: 1-9, ISSN: 2352-3964
BackgroundNormal airway microbial communities play a central role in respiratory health but arepoorly characterized. Cigarette smoking is the dominant global environmental influenceon lung function, and asthma has become the most prevalent chronic respiratorydisease worldwide. Both conditions have major microbial components that areincompletely defined.MethodsWe investigated airway bacterial communities in a general population sample of 529Australian adults. Posterior oropharyngeal swabs were analyzed by sequencing of the16S rRNA gene. The microbiota were characterized according to their prevalence,abundance and network memberships.FindingsThe microbiota were similar across the general population, and were stronglyorganized into co-abundance networks. Smoking associated with diversity loss,negative effects on abundant taxa, profound alterations to network structure andexpansion of Streptococcus spp. By contrast, the asthmatic microbiota wereselectively affected by an increase in Neisseria spp. and by reduced numbers of lowabundance but prevalent organisms.InterpretationOur study shows that the healthy airway microbiota in this population were containedwithin a highly structured ecosystem, suggesting balanced relationships between themicrobiome and human host factors. The marked abnormalities in smokers maycontribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Thenarrow spectrum of abnormalities in asthmatics encourages investigation of damagingand protective effects of specific bacteria.
Domingo-Sabugo C, Willis-Owen SAG, Mandal A, et al., 2021, Distinct pancreatic and neuronal Lung Carcinoid molecular subtypes revealed by integrative omic analysis
<jats:title>Summary</jats:title><jats:p>Lung Carcinoids (L-CDs) are uncommon low-grade neuroendocrine tumours that are only recently becoming characterised at the molecular level. Notably data on the molecular events that precipitate altered gene expression programmes are very limited. Here we have identified two discrete L-CD subtypes from transcriptomic and whole-genome DNA methylation data, and comprehensively defined their molecular profiles using Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Subtype (Group) 1 features upregulation of neuronal markers (L-CD-NeU) and is characterised by focal spindle cell morphology, peripheral location (71%), high mutational load (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>=3.4×10<jats:sup>−4</jats:sup>), recurrent copy number alterations and is enriched for Atypical Lung Carcinoids. Group 2 (L-CD-PanC) are centrally located and feature upregulation of pancreatic and metabolic pathway genes concordant with promoter hypomethylation of beta cell and genes related to insulin secretion (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic><1×10<jats:sup>−6</jats:sup>). L-CD-NeU tumours harbour mutations in chromatin remodelling and in SWI/SNF complex members, while L-CD-PanC tumours show aflatoxin mutational signatures and significant DNA methylation loss genome-wide, particularly enriched in repetitive elements (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic><2.2 × 10<jats:sup>−16</jats:sup>). Our findings provide novel insights into the distinct mechanisms of epigenetic dysregulation in these lung malignancies, potentially opening new avenues for biomarker selection and treatment in L-CD patients.</jats:p>
Willis-Owen S, Domingo Sabugo C, Starren E, et al., 2021, Y disruption, autosomal hypomethylation and poor male lung cancer survival, Scientific Reports, Vol: 11, ISSN: 2045-2322
Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide. It affects more men than women, and men generally have worse survival outcomes. We compared gene co-expression networks in affected and unaffected lung tissue from 126 consecutive patients with Stage IA–IV lung cancer undergoing surgery with curative intent. We observed marked degradation of a sex-associated transcription network in tumour tissue. This disturbance, detected in 27.7% of male tumours in the discovery dataset and 27.3% of male tumours in a further 123-sample replication dataset, was coincident with partial losses of the Y chromosome and extensive autosomal DNA hypomethylation. Central to this network was the epigenetic modifier and regulator of sexually dimorphic gene expression, KDM5D. After accounting for prognostic and epidemiological covariates including stage and histology, male patients with tumour KDM5D deficiency showed a significantly increased risk of death (Hazard Ratio [HR] 3.80, 95% CI 1.40–10.3, P = 0.009). KDM5D deficiency was confirmed as a negative prognostic indicator in a further 1100 male lung tumours (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.4–2.0, P = 1.2 × 10–10). Our findings identify tumour deficiency of KDM5D as a prognostic marker and credible mechanism underlying sex disparity in lung cancer.
Laura G, Liu Y, Fernandes K, et al., 2021, ORMDL3 regulates poly I:C induced inflammatory responses in airway epithelial cells, BMC Pulmonary Medicine, Vol: 21, ISSN: 1471-2466
Background:Oroscomucoid 3 (ORMDL3) has been linked to susceptibility of childhood asthma and respiratory viral infection. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) is a synthetic analog of viral double-stranded RNA, a toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand and mimic of viral infection.Methods:To investigate the functional role of ORMDL3 in the poly I:C-induced inflammatory response in airway epithelial cells, ORMDL3 knockdown and over-expression models were established in human A549 epithelial cells and primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. The cells were stimulated with poly I:C or the Th17 cytokine IL-17A. IL-6 and IL-8 levels in supernatants, mRNA levels of genes in the TLR3 pathway and inflammatory response from cell pellets were measured. ORMDL3 knockdown models in A549 and BEAS-2B epithelial cells were then infected with live human rhinovirus (HRV16) followed by IL-6 and IL-8 measurement.Results:ORMDL3 knockdown and over-expression had little influence on the transcript levels of TLR3 in airway epithelial cells. Time course studies showed that ORMDL3-deficient A549 and NHBE cells had an attenuated IL-6 and IL-8 response to poly I:C stimulation. A549 and NHBE cells over-expressing ORMDL3 released relatively more IL-6 and IL-8 following poly I:C stimulation. IL-17A exhibited a similar inflammatory response in ORMDL3 knockdown and over-expressing cells, but co-stimulation of poly I:C and IL-17A did not significantly enhance the IL-6 and IL-8 response. Transcript abundance of IFNB following poly I:C stimulation was not significantly altered by ORMDL3 knockdown or over-expression. Dampening of the IL-6 response by ORMDL3 knockdown was confirmed in HRV16 infected BEAS-2B and A549 cells.Conclusions:ORMDL3 regulates the viral inflammatory response in airway epithelial cells via mechanisms independent of the TLR3 pathway.
Cuthbertson L, Felton I, James P, et al., 2021, The fungal airway microbiome in cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Vol: 20, Pages: 295-302, ISSN: 1569-1993
BackgroundThe prevalence of fungal disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis is increasing and the clinical spectrum is widening. Poor sensitivity and a lack of standard diagnostic criteria renders interpretation of culture results challenging. In order to develop effective management strategies, a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the airways fungal microbiome is required. The study aimed to use DNA sequences from sputum to assess the load and diversity of fungi in adults with CF and non-CF bronchiectasis.MethodsNext generation sequencing of the ITS2 region was used to examine fungal community composition (n = 176) by disease and underlying clinical subgroups including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and fungal bronchitis. Patients with no known active fungal disease were included as disease controls.ResultsITS2 sequencing greatly increased the detection of fungi from sputum. In patients with CF fungal diversity was lower, while burden was higher than those with non-CF bronchiectasis. The most common operational taxonomic unit (OTU) in patients with CF was Candida parapsilosis (20.4%), whereas in non-CF bronchiectasis sputum Candida albicans (21.8%) was most common. CF patients with overt fungal bronchitis were dominated by Aspergillus spp., Exophiala spp., Candida parapsilosis or Scedosporium spp.ConclusionThis study provides a framework to more accurately characterize the extended spectrum of fungal airways diseases in adult suppurative lung diseases.
Hughes DA, Cuthbertson L, Price H, et al., 2021, PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA IMPAIRS GROWTH OF ASPERGILLUS FROM CF AIRWAY SAMPLES, Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: A159-A159, ISSN: 0040-6376
Feng Y-CA, Guo Y, Pain L, et al., 2021, Estimating cell-type-specific DNA methylation effects in heterogeneous cellular populations, EPIGENOMICS, Vol: 13, Pages: 87-97, ISSN: 1750-1911
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Domingo-Sabugo C, Starren E, Mandal A, et al., 2020, Distinct Landscapes of Genomic Alterations between Lung Carcinoids and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers, Publisher: SPRINGERNATURE, Pages: 528-528, ISSN: 1018-4813
Habibi M, Thwaites R, Chang M, et al., 2020, Neutrophilic inflammation in the respiratory mucosa predisposes to RSV infection, Science, Vol: 370, Pages: 1-15, ISSN: 0036-8075
INTRODUCTIONEven with intimate exposure to a virus, some people fail to become infected. Variable transmission partly depends on the dose and duration of exposure but is also governed by the immune status of the host, such as the presence of specific protective antibodies or T cells. However, for some infections, the reasons for erratic transmission are largely unknown. For example, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can repeatedly reinfect individuals throughout their lives despite the presence of specific immunity. Additionally, antibodies and T cells have limited efficacy against newly emergent pathogens with pandemic potential. However, the intrinsic and innate mechanisms underlying protection when people are exposed to these viruses are poorly understood.RATIONALEWe reasoned that the prior state of the respiratory mucosa’s innate defenses may contribute to the variable outcome of RSV inoculation. By performing experimental challenge of adult volunteers, we were able to measure variations in the status of the nasal mucosa before inoculation and in mucosal responses during the presymptomatic phase of infection. Neither of these phases is easily observable during natural spontaneous transmission. Our observations could then be validated using specific interventional studies in a well-established mouse model of RSV infection.RESULTSAfter nasal administration of RSV, 57% of inoculated volunteers became infected. The uptake of infection was poorly explained by specific B or T cell immunity. However, transcriptomic profiling of the nasal tissue before inoculation demonstrated a neutrophilic inflammatory signal in those destined to develop symptomatic infection, and this was associated with suppression of an early interleukin-17 (IL-17)–dominated immune response during the presymptomatic period. This was followed by symptomatic infection associated with the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. By contrast, those who resisted infection showed a transient
Hughes D, Cuthbertson L, Price H, et al., 2020, <i>PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA</i> IMPAIRS GROWTH OF <i>ASPERGILLUS</i> FROM CF AIRWAY SAMPLES, Publisher: WILEY, Pages: S153-S153, ISSN: 8755-6863
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