Cell-associated bacteria in the human lung microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have revealed that bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid contains previously unappreciated communities of bacteria. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that host inflammatory signals prompt bacteria to disperse from cell-associated biofilms and adopt a virulent free-living phenotype. The proportion of the lung microbiota that is cell-associated is unknown.Forty-six BAL specimens were obtained from lung transplant recipients and divided into two aliquots: 'whole BAL' and 'acellular BAL,' the latter processed with a low-speed, short-duration centrifugation step. Both aliquots were analyzed via bacterial 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. The BAL specimens represented a wide spectrum of lung health, ranging from healthy and asymptomatic to acutely infected. Bacterial signal was detected in 52% of acellular BAL aliquots, fewer than were detected in whole BAL (96%, p???0.0001). Detection of bacteria in acellular BAL was associated with indices of acute infection [BAL neutrophilia, high total bacterial (16S) DNA, low community diversity, p?

SUBMITTER: Dickson RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4158729 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature