Porphyromonas pasteri and Prevotella nanceiensis in the sputum are associated with increased decline in lung function in individuals with cystic fibrosis

 

The role of anaerobic bacteria  in disease progression in cystic fibrosis (CF) was studied by Webb et al. from UnitedKingdom.  The authors hypothesized that the presence and relative abundance of the most prevalent, live, anaerobic bacteria in sputum of adults with CF were associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

The investigators performed 16S rRNA analysis using a viability quantitative PCR technique on sputum samples obtained from a prospective cohort of 70 adults with CF and collected clinical data over an 8 year follow-up period. They examined the associations of the ten most abundant obligate anaerobic bacteria present in the sputum with annual rate of FEV1 change. The presence of Porphyromonas pasteri and Prevotella nanceiensis were associated with a greater annual rate of FEV1 change. Similarly, the relative abundance of these live organisms were associated with a greater annual rate of FEV1 decline of -3.7 ml yr-1 and -5.3 ml yr-1  for each log 2 increment of abundance, respectively.

The authors concluded that the presence and relative abundance of certain anaerobes in the sputum of adults with CF are associated with a greater rate of long-term lung function decline.