Open AccessThe pulmonary mycobiome—A study of subjects with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Author(s) -
Einar Marius Hjellestad Martinsen,
Tomas Mikal Eagan,
Elise Orvedal Leiten,
Ingvild Haaland,
Gunnar Reksten Husebø,
Kristel Svalland Knudsen,
Christine Drengenes,
Walter Sanseverino,
Andreu Paytuví-Gallart,
Rune Nielsen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0248967
Subject(s) - copd , internal transcribed spacer , bronchoalveolar lavage , pulmonary disease , beta diversity , biology , microbiome , ribosomal rna , medicine , lung , gene , biodiversity , ecology , genetics
Background The fungal part of the pulmonary microbiome (mycobiome) is understudied. We report the composition of the oral and pulmonary mycobiome in participants with COPD compared to controls in a large-scale single-centre bronchoscopy study (MicroCOPD). Methods Oral wash and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was collected from 93 participants with COPD and 100 controls. Fungal DNA was extracted before sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of the fungal ribosomal RNA gene cluster. Taxonomic barplots were generated, and we compared taxonomic composition, Shannon index, and beta diversity between study groups, and by use of inhaled steroids. Results The oral and pulmonary mycobiomes from controls and participants with COPD were dominated by Candida , and there were more Candida in oral samples compared to BAL for both study groups. Malassezia and Sarocladium were also frequently found in pulmonary samples. No consistent differences were found between study groups in terms of differential abundance/distribution. Alpha and beta diversity did not differ between study groups in pulmonary samples, but beta diversity varied with sample type. The mycobiomes did not seem to be affected by use of inhaled steroids. Conclusion Oral and pulmonary samples differed in taxonomic composition and diversity, possibly indicating the existence of a pulmonary mycobiome.