Human Metagenome. human lung metagenome

The bronchial microbiome in severe COPD during stability and exacerbation has not been defined. The influence of chronic colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not known. The objective of the study was to determine changes in the bronchial microbiome in severe COPD patients when chronic colonization by P. aeruginosa is diagnosed and during exacerbations. Methods: Frequent-exacerbator COPD patients with severe disease were categorized according to chronic colonization by P. aeruginosa. Sputum samples were obtained in stability and exacerbation, cultured, and analysed by amplification and pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in order to determine the microbiome associated with P. aeruginosa colonization and exacerbation.