Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact

Abstract Background Respiratory disease outbreaks frequently occur in settings where individuals are in close contact, for example, schools and factories. However, the transmission patterns of oropharyngeal microbiota among healthy individuals living in clusters are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to i...

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Main Authors: Na Zhao, Xingxing Lian, Juan Du, Hongyu Ren, Tianshuo Zhao, Qingbin Lu, Yinan Li, Fuqiang Cui, Tian Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10019-6
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author Na Zhao
Xingxing Lian
Juan Du
Hongyu Ren
Tianshuo Zhao
Qingbin Lu
Yinan Li
Fuqiang Cui
Tian Qin
author_facet Na Zhao
Xingxing Lian
Juan Du
Hongyu Ren
Tianshuo Zhao
Qingbin Lu
Yinan Li
Fuqiang Cui
Tian Qin
author_sort Na Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Respiratory disease outbreaks frequently occur in settings where individuals are in close contact, for example, schools and factories. However, the transmission patterns of oropharyngeal microbiota among healthy individuals living in clusters are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact. Methods A total of 36 freshmen from Peking University Medical School participated in the study. We collected pharyngeal swabs on the first day of enrollment, 15, 30, and 60 days after cohabitation. DNA was extracted from the swabs and subjected to high-throughput sequencing to profile the microbial composition. Statistical analyses were performed to assess diversity and significance. Results Neisseriaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Streptococcaceae were the most abundant bacterial families detected. Over time, changes were observed in the bacterial communities, with a tendency for increased similarity between dormitory room members. By day 60 of cohabitation, the bacterial communities appeared to be more similar compared to the baseline (prior to cohabitation). The transmission patterns included spreading with colonization, spreading without colonization, and non-spreading. Bacteria belonging to the core genera are most likely to spread and colonize easily. Conclusion The risk of healthy cohabitants acquiring respiratory pathogens through close contact may be overestimated in epidemiological studies. Therefore, monitoring the spread of core genera that are easily transmitted and colonized is crucial for effective prevention of respiratory pathogen transmission.
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spelling doaj-art-8f8233c9cdd64092bdfed319430fb8be2024-11-17T12:12:04ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342024-11-012411910.1186/s12879-024-10019-6Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contactNa Zhao0Xingxing Lian1Juan Du2Hongyu Ren3Tianshuo Zhao4Qingbin Lu5Yinan Li6Fuqiang Cui7Tian Qin8National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Laboratorial Science and Technology & Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking UniversityNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Laboratorial Science and Technology & Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking UniversityDepartment of Laboratorial Science and Technology & Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking UniversityNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Laboratorial Science and Technology & Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking UniversityNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Background Respiratory disease outbreaks frequently occur in settings where individuals are in close contact, for example, schools and factories. However, the transmission patterns of oropharyngeal microbiota among healthy individuals living in clusters are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact. Methods A total of 36 freshmen from Peking University Medical School participated in the study. We collected pharyngeal swabs on the first day of enrollment, 15, 30, and 60 days after cohabitation. DNA was extracted from the swabs and subjected to high-throughput sequencing to profile the microbial composition. Statistical analyses were performed to assess diversity and significance. Results Neisseriaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Streptococcaceae were the most abundant bacterial families detected. Over time, changes were observed in the bacterial communities, with a tendency for increased similarity between dormitory room members. By day 60 of cohabitation, the bacterial communities appeared to be more similar compared to the baseline (prior to cohabitation). The transmission patterns included spreading with colonization, spreading without colonization, and non-spreading. Bacteria belonging to the core genera are most likely to spread and colonize easily. Conclusion The risk of healthy cohabitants acquiring respiratory pathogens through close contact may be overestimated in epidemiological studies. Therefore, monitoring the spread of core genera that are easily transmitted and colonized is crucial for effective prevention of respiratory pathogen transmission.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10019-6Respiratory diseaseClose contactOropharyngeal microbiotaHigh-throughput sequencing
spellingShingle Na Zhao
Xingxing Lian
Juan Du
Hongyu Ren
Tianshuo Zhao
Qingbin Lu
Yinan Li
Fuqiang Cui
Tian Qin
Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact
BMC Infectious Diseases
Respiratory disease
Close contact
Oropharyngeal microbiota
High-throughput sequencing
title Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact
title_full Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact
title_fullStr Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact
title_full_unstemmed Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact
title_short Respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact
title_sort respiratory tract bacteria distribution and transmission patterns among individuals in close contact
topic Respiratory disease
Close contact
Oropharyngeal microbiota
High-throughput sequencing
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10019-6
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