Nasopharyngeal microbiota in hospitalized children with Bordetella pertussis and Rhinovirus infection

A E Tozzi,I Campagna,I Croci,A Villani,G Linardos,V Guarrasi,S Gardini,C Concato,F Gesualdo,L Russo,S Reddel,L Putignani,E Pandolfi,F Del Chierico

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-02322-y

Abstract

Despite great advances in describing Bordetella pertussis infection, the role of the host microbiota in pertussis pathogenesis remains unexplored. Indeed, the microbiota plays important role in defending against bacterial and viral respiratory infections. We investigated the nasopharyngeal microbiota in infants infected by B. pertussis (Bp), Rhinovirus (Rv) and simultaneously by both infectious agents (Bp + Rv). We demonstrated a specific nasopharyngeal microbiome profiles for Bp group, compared to Rv and Bp + Rv groups, and a reduction of microbial richness during coinfection compared to the single infections. The comparison amongst the three groups showed the increase of Alcaligenaceae and Achromobacter in Bp and Moraxellaceae and Moraxella in Rv group. Furthermore, correlation analysis between patients’ features and nasopharyngeal microbiota profile highlighted a link between delivery and feeding modality, antibiotic administration and B. pertussis infection. A model classification demonstrated a microbiota fingerprinting specific of Bp and Rv infections. In conclusion, external factors since the first moments of life contribute to the alteration of nasopharyngeal microbiota, indeed increasing the susceptibility of the host to the pathogens' infections. When the infection is triggered, the presence of infectious agents modifies the microbiota favoring the overgrowth of commensal bacteria that turn in pathobionts, hence contributing to the disease severity.

Highlights

Despite great advances in describing Bordetella pertussis infection, the role of the host microbiota in pertussis pathogenesis remains unexplored
We investigated the characteristics of nasopharyngeal microbiome in infants with B. pertussis and Rhinovirus simultaneous infection with those of either infection alone
Paroxysmal cough, whooping and apnea were more frequent in patients with B. pertussis infection

Summary

Introduction

Despite great advances in describing Bordetella pertussis infection, the role of the host microbiota in pertussis pathogenesis remains unexplored. We investigated the nasopharyngeal microbiota in infants infected by B. pertussis (Bp), Rhinovirus (Rv) and simultaneously by both infectious agents (Bp + Rv). We demonstrated a specific nasopharyngeal microbiome profiles for Bp group, compared to Rv and Bp + Rv groups, and a reduction of microbial richness during coinfection compared to the single infections. The nasopharyngeal tract is inhabited by specific ecosystems that may change during infections[1,2,3,4] and that play a central role in the host’s susceptibility to pathogens[5]. Bordetella pertussis is the main causative agent of pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory infectious disease that continues to occur worldwide, in both highly vaccinated and unvaccinated populations[6]. The pathogenesis of asthma episodes may involve the ecology of the respiratory tract as suggested by some authors[3,13,14]

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Results

Conclusion