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Ederveen THA, Ferwerda G, Ahout IM, Vissers M, de Groot R, Boekhorst J, Timmerman HM, Huynen MA, van Hijum SAFT, de Jonge MI. Haemophilus is overrepresented in the nasopharynx of infants hospitalized with RSV infection and associated with increased viral load and enhanced mucosal CXCL8 responses. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:10. [PMID: 29325581 PMCID: PMC5765694 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-017-0395-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While almost all infants are infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) before the age of 2 years, only a small percentage develops severe disease. Previous studies suggest that the nasopharyngeal microbiome affects disease development. We therefore studied the effect of the nasopharyngeal microbiome on viral load and mucosal cytokine responses, two important factors influencing the pathophysiology of RSV disease. To determine the relation between (i) the microbiome of the upper respiratory tract, (ii) viral load, and (iii) host mucosal inflammation during an RSV infection, nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles of RSV infected infants (< 6 months) with different levels of disease severity and age-matched healthy controls were determined by 16S rRNA marker gene sequencing. The viral load was measured using qPCR. Nasopharyngeal CCL5, CXCL10, MMP9, IL6, and CXCL8 levels were determined with ELISA. RESULTS Viral load in nasopharyngeal aspirates of patients associates significantly to total nasopharyngeal microbiota composition. Healthy infants (n = 21) and RSV patients (n = 54) display very distinct microbial patterns, primarily characterized by a loss in commensals like Veillonella and overrepresentation of opportunistic organisms like Haemophilus and Achromobacter in RSV-infected individuals. Furthermore, nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles are significantly different based on CXCL8 levels. CXCL8 is a chemokine that was previously found to be indicative for disease severity and for which we find Haemophilus abundance as the strongest predictor for CXCL8 levels. CONCLUSIONS The nasopharyngeal microbiota in young infants with RSV infection is marked by an overrepresentation of the genus Haemophilus. We present that this bacterium is associated with viral load and mucosal CXCL8 responses, both which are involved in RSV disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H A Ederveen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerben Ferwerda
- Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein-Zuid 10 (Route 412), 6525, GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Inge M Ahout
- Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein-Zuid 10 (Route 412), 6525, GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marloes Vissers
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald de Groot
- Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein-Zuid 10 (Route 412), 6525, GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jos Boekhorst
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- NIZO, Ede, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martijn A Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sacha A F T van Hijum
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- NIZO, Ede, The Netherlands
| | - Marien I de Jonge
- Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein-Zuid 10 (Route 412), 6525, GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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