Application of ecological processes to longitudinal Cystic Fibrosis samples. Ecological patterns and processes of temporal turnover within lung infection microbiota

Chronic infection and consequent airway inflammation is the leading cause of morbidity and early mortality for people living with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, lower airway infection across a range of chronic respiratory diseases, including in CF, do not follow classical ‘one microbe, one disease’ concepts of infection pathogenesis. Instead they are comprised of diverse and temporally dynamic lung infection microbiota. Consequently, temporal dynamics need to be considered when attempting to associate lung microbiota with changes in disease status. Set within an island biogeography framework, we aimed to determine the ecological patterns and processes of temporal turnover within the lung microbiota of 30 paediatric and adult CF patients prospectively sampled over a 3-year period. Moreover, we aimed to ascertain the contributions of constituent chronic and intermittent colonizers on turnover within the wider microbiota.