Citizen-science based study of the oral microbiome in Cystic fibrosis and matched controls reveals major differences in diversity and abundance of bacterial and fungal species

Willis, Jesse R.; Saus Martínez, Ester; Iraola Guzmán, Susana; Cabello-Yeves, Elena; Ksiezopolska, Ewa; Cozzuto, Luca; Bejarano, Luis A.; Andreu Somavilla, Núria; Alloza-Trabado, Miriam; Blanco, Andrea; Puig-Sola, Anna; Broglio, Elisabetta; Carolis, Carlo; Ponomarenko, Julia; Hecht, Jochen; Gabaldón Estevan, Juan Antonio, 1973-

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2021.1897328

Citizen-science based study of the oral microbiome in Cystic fibrosis and matched controls reveals major differences in diversity and abundance of bacterial and fungal species

Citation

Willis JR, Saus E, Iraola-Guzmán S, Cabello-Yeves E, Ksiezopolska E, Cozzuto L, Bejarano LA, Andreu-Somavilla N, Alloza-Trabado M, Blanco A, Puig-Sola A, Broglio E, Carolis C, Ponomarenko J, Hecht J, Gabaldón T. Citizen-science based study of the oral microbiome in Cystic fibrosis and matched controls reveals major differences in diversity and abundance of bacterial and fungal species. J Oral Microbiol. 2021;13(1):1897328. DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2021.1897328

Abstract

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal genetic disease, associated with the production of excessively thick mucosa and with life-threatening chronic lung infections. The microbiota of the oral cavity can act as a reservoir or as a barrier for infectious microorganisms that can colonize the lungs. However, the specific composition of the oral microbiome in CF is poorly understood.Methods: In collaboration with CF associations in Spain, we collected oral rinse samples from 31 CF persons (age range 7-47) and matched controls, and then performed 16S rRNA metabarcoding and high-throughput sequencing, combined with culture and proteomics-based identification of fungi to survey the bacterial and fungal oral microbiome.Results: We found that CF is associated with less diverse oral microbiomes, which were characterized by higher prevalence of Candida albicans and differential abundances of a number of bacterial taxa that have implications in both the connection to lung infections in CF, as well as potential oral health concerns, particularly periodontitis and dental caries.Conclusion: Overall, our study provides a first global snapshot of the oral microbiome in CF. Future studies are required to establish the relationships between the composition of the oral and lung microbiomes in CF.