Metagenomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid microbiota during acute exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: associations with disease severity and airway inflammation

Bronchiectasis exacerbations involve recurrent airway infections, microbial dysbiosis, and inflammation, yet their interplay during episodes remains unclear. We performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected during acute exacerbations to profile the airway microbiota and pathogens, and assessed how community features relate to disease severity and airway inflammatory markers.