The lung microbiome in children with HIV-bronchiectasis: a cross-sectional pilot study

摘要

Data on the lung microbiome in HIV-infected children is limited. The current study sought to determine the lung microbiome in HIV-associated bronchiectasis and to assess its association with pulmonary exacerbations. A cross-sectional pilot study of 22 children (68% male; mean age 10.8?years) with HIV-associated bronchiectasis and a control group of 5 children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Thirty-one samples were collected, with 11 during exacerbations. Sputum samples were processed with 16S rRNA pyrosequencing. The average number of operational taxonomy units (OTUs) was 298?±?67 vs. 434?±?90, for HIV-bronchiectasis and CF, respectively. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria was higher in HIV-bronchiectasis (72.3%), with only 22.2% Firmicutes. There was no correlation between lung functions (FEV1% and FEF25/75%) and bacterial community (r?=?0.154; p?=?0.470 and r?=?0.178; p?=?0.403), respectively. Bacterial assemblage of exacerbation and non-exacerbation samples in HIV-bronchiectasis was not significantly different (ANOSIM, RHIV-bronchiectasis?=?0.08; p?=?0.14 and RCF?=?0.08, p?=?0.50). Higher within-community heterogeneity and lower evenness was associated with CF (Shannon-Weiner (H′)?=?5.39?±?0.38 and Pielou’s evenness (J) 0.79?±?0.10 vs. HIV-bronchiectasis (Shannon-Weiner (H′)?=?4.45?±?0.49 and Pielou’s (J) 0.89?±?0.03. The microbiome in children with HIV-associated bronchiectasis seems to be less rich, diverse and heterogeneous with predominance of Proteobacteria when compared to cystic fibrosis.