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Abstract / Description of output
Background: Recently, the importance of the lung microbiota during health and disease has been examined in humans and in small animal models. Whilst sheep have been proposed as an appropriate large animal model for studying the pathophysiology of a number of important human respiratory diseases, it is clearly important to continually define the limits of agreement between these systems as new concepts emerge. In humans it has recently been established that the lung microbiota is seeded by microbes from the oral cavity. We sought to determine whether the same was true in sheep.
Results: We took lung fluid and upper aerodigestive tract (oropharyngeal) swab samples from forty lambs (seven weeks old). DNA extraction was performed and the V2-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR then sequenced via Illumina Miseq. Oropharyngeal swabs were either dominated by bacteria commonly associated with the rumen or by bacteria commonly associated with the upper aerodigestive tract. Lung microbiota samples did not resemble either upper aerodigestive tract samples or reagent only controls. Some rumen associated bacteria were found in lung fluids, indicating that inhalation of ruminal bacteria does occur. We also identified several bacteria which were significantly more abundant in lung fluids than in upper aerodigestive tract swabs, the most predominant of which was classified as Staphylococcus equorum.
Conclusions: In contrast to humans, we found that that the lung microbiota of lambs is dissimilar to that of the upper aerodigestive tract and we suggest that this may be related to physiological and 1anatomical differences between sheep and humans. Understanding the comparative physiology and anatomy underlying differences in lung microbiota between species will provide a foundation upon which to interpret changes associated with disease and/or environment.
Results: We took lung fluid and upper aerodigestive tract (oropharyngeal) swab samples from forty lambs (seven weeks old). DNA extraction was performed and the V2-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR then sequenced via Illumina Miseq. Oropharyngeal swabs were either dominated by bacteria commonly associated with the rumen or by bacteria commonly associated with the upper aerodigestive tract. Lung microbiota samples did not resemble either upper aerodigestive tract samples or reagent only controls. Some rumen associated bacteria were found in lung fluids, indicating that inhalation of ruminal bacteria does occur. We also identified several bacteria which were significantly more abundant in lung fluids than in upper aerodigestive tract swabs, the most predominant of which was classified as Staphylococcus equorum.
Conclusions: In contrast to humans, we found that that the lung microbiota of lambs is dissimilar to that of the upper aerodigestive tract and we suggest that this may be related to physiological and 1anatomical differences between sheep and humans. Understanding the comparative physiology and anatomy underlying differences in lung microbiota between species will provide a foundation upon which to interpret changes associated with disease and/or environment.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 145 |
Journal | Microbiome |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 Oct 2017 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- lung
- microbiota
- sheep
- lambs
- oropharynx
- rumen
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Dive into the research topics of 'Comparing microbiotas in the upper aerodigestive and lower respiratory tracts of lambs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
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Profiles
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David Collie
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies - Group Leader/Reader
- Edinburgh Imaging
Person: Academic: Research Active
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Gerry McLachlan
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies - Group Leader/Senior Research Fellow
- Edinburgh Imaging
Person: Academic: Research Active