human respiratory metagenome Targeted loci environmental

Twelve adult cystic fibrosis patients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study to investigate the biodiversity in paired lung sputum and sinus mucus samples by 16S sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region. The goal of the investigation was to compare and contrast the bacterial communities in these specimens, in order to better understand the ecological landscape of the cystic fibrosis respiratory system. Sputum samples were collected by expectoration immediately prior to functional endoscopic sinus surgery to treat chronic upper respiratory infections. Genomic DNA was isolated from these samples, and the V4 hypervariable region was amplified from this DNA and sequenced at the University of Minnesota Genomics Center.