BRONCHIAL VIROME IN COPD: CHARACTERIZATION OF STABILITY AND EXACERBATION PATTERNS

Aim To characterize the bronchial virome in severe COPD during stability periods and non-infectious exacerbations. Methods: Sputum samples were collected from severe COPD outpatients when stable and from an exacerbation considered as non-infectious after bacterial culture and PCR against common respiratory viruses. Bronchial virome was analysed by culture-independent metagenomic techniques, assessing its change during exacerbations.