Determination of nasal and oropharyngeal microbiomes in a multicenter population-based study - findings from Pretest 1 of the German National Cohort.

Manas K Akmatov, Nadine Koch, Marius Vital, Wolfgang Ahrens, Dieter Flesch-Janys, Julia Fricke, Anja Gatzemeier, Halina Greiser, Kathrin Günther, Thomas Illig, Rudolf Kaaks, Bastian Krone, Andrea Kühn, Jakob Linseisen, Christine Meisinger, Karin Michels, Susanne Moebus, Alexandra Nieters, Nadia Obi, Anja Schultze, Julia Six-Merker, Dietmar H Pieper, Frank Pessler

Journal: Scientific reports 2018;7(1):1855

PMID: 28500287

Free Full Text on Nature Publishing Group View on PubMed

Abstract

We examined acceptability, preference and feasibility of collecting nasal and oropharyngeal swabs, followed by microbiome analysis, in a population-based study with 524 participants. Anterior nasal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected by certified personnel. In addition, participants self-collected nasal swabs at home four weeks later. Four swab types were compared regarding (1) participants' satisfaction and acceptance and (2) detection of microbial community structures based on deep sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene V1-V2 variable regions. All swabbing methods were highly accepted. Microbial community structure analysis revealed 846 phylotypes, 46 of which were unique to oropharynx and 164 unique to nares. The calcium alginate tipped swab was found unsuitable for microbiome determinations. Among the remaining three swab types, there were no differences in oropharyngeal microbiomes detected and only marginal differences in nasal microbiomes. Microbial community structures did not differ between staff-collected and self-collected nasal swabs. These results suggest (1) that nasal and oropharyngeal swabbing are highly feasible methods for human population-based studies that include the characterization of microbial community structures in these important ecological niches, and (2) that self-collection of nasal swabs at home can be used to reduce cost and resources needed, particularly when serial measurements are to be taken.

Address: TWINCORE, Center for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany. [email protected].; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany. [email protected].; Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, Hannover, Germany. [email protected].; Microbial Interactions and Processes, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.; University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.; Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany.; Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.; Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany.; Institute of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre Munich, Munich, Germany.; Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.; Institute of Epidemiology 2, Helmholtz Centre Munich, Munich, Germany.; Institute of Epidemiology 2, Helmholtz Centre Munich, Munich, Germany.; Klinikum Augsburg, KORA and NAKO Study Center, Augsburg, Germany.; Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.; Centre for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.; Institute of Epidemiology 2, Helmholtz Centre Munich, Munich, Germany.; Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.; TWINCORE, Center for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany.; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.; Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, Hannover, Germany.

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01212-6

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

Other Literature Sources:

https://scite.ai/reports/28500287

MeSH Terms: Cohort Studies, Germany, Humans, Microbiota, Nasal Cavity, Oropharynx, Public Health Surveillance