AUTHOR=Beaume Marie , Lazarevic Vladimir , Köhler Thilo , Gaïa Nadia , Manuel Oriol , Aubert John-David , Baerlocher Loïc , Farinelli Laurent , Gasche Paola , Schrenzel Jacques , van Delden Christian ,  the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study , Achermann Rita , Amico Patrizia , Aubert John-David , Baumann Philippe , Beldi Guido , Benden Christian , Berger Christoph , Binet Isabelle , Bochud Pierre-Yves , Boely Elsa , Bucher Heiner , Bühler Leo , Carell Thierry , Catana Emmanuelle , Chalandon Yves , de Geest Sabina , de Rougemont Olivier , Dickenmann Michael , Duchosal Michel , Fehr Thomas , Ferrari-Lacraz Sylvie , Garzoni Christian , Soccal Paola G. , Giostra Emiliano , Golshayan Déla , Good Daniel , Hadaya Karine , Halter Jörg , Heim Dominik , Hess Christoph , Hillinger Sven , Hirsch Hans H. , Hirzel Cédric , Hofbauer Günther , Huynh-Do Uyen , Immer Franz , Klaghofer Richard , Koller Michael , Laesser Bettina , Lehmann Roger , Lovis Christian , Manuel Oriol , Marti Hans-Peter , Martin Pierre Y. , Martinolli Luca , Meylan Pascal , Mohacsi Paul , Morard Isabelle , Morel Philippe , Mueller Ulrike , Mueller Nicolas J. , Mueller-McKenna Helen , Müller Antonia , Müller Thomas , Müllhaupt Beat , Nadal David , Pascual Manuel , Passweg Jakob , Ziegler Chantal P. , Rick Juliane , Roosnek Eddy , Rosselet Anne , Rothlin Silvia , Ruschitzka Frank , Schanz Urs , Schaub Stefan , Seiler Christian , Stampf Susanne , Steiger Jürg , Stirnimann Guido , Toso Guido , Tsinalis Dimitri , Van Delden Christian , Venetz Jean-Pierre , Villard Jean , Wick Madeleine , Wilhelm Markus , Yerly Patrick 

TITLE=Microbial Communities of Conducting and Respiratory Zones of Lung-Transplanted Patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01749

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2016.01749

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Lung transplantation (LT) is a recognized treatment for end-stage pulmonary disease. Bacteria from the recipient nasopharynx seed the new lungs leading to infections and allograft damage. Understanding the characteristics and topological variations of the microbiota may be important to apprehend the pathophysiology of allograft dysfunction.</p><p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To examine the characteristics and relationship of bacterial compositions between conducting and respiratory zones of the allograft.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on bronchial aspirates (BAs) and bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) collected in pairs in 19 patients at several time-points post-LT.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The respiratory zone was characterized independently of the time post-LT by a higher bacterial richness than the conducting zone (<italic>p</italic> = 0.041). The phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated both sampling zones, with an inverse correlation between these two phyla (Spearman <italic>r</italic> = –0.830). Samples of the same pair, as well as pairs from the same individual clustered together (Pseudo-<italic>F</italic> = 3.8652, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Microbiota of BA and BAL were more closely related in samples from the same patient than each sample type across different patients, with variation in community structure being mainly inter-individual (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Both number of antibiotics administered (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) and time interval post-LT (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) contributed to the variation in global microbiota structure. Longitudinal analysis of BA–BAL pairs of two patients showed dynamic wave like fluctuations of the microbiota.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Our results show that post-transplant respiratory zones harbor higher bacterial richness, but overall similar bacterial profiles as compared to conductive zones. They further support an individual microbial signature following LT.</p>