Disordered Microbial Communities in Asthmatic Airways

TLDR

A rich microbial environment in infancy protects against asthma, while infections precipitate asthma exacerbations. The study compared airway microbiota across adult asthmatics, COPD patients, and controls, and examined bronchial lavage from asthmatic children and controls, identifying 5,054 16S rRNA sequences from 43 subjects that captured over 70 % of species present. The bronchial tree harbors a non‑sterile microbiota with ~2,000 bacterial genomes per cm², dominated by Proteobacteria—especially Haemophilus spp.—in adult and child asthmatics and COPD patients, whereas Bacteroidetes such as Prevotella spp.

Abstract

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.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.The results show the bronchial tree to contain a characteristic microbiota, and suggest that this microbiota is disturbed in asthmatic airways.