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Household air pollution and the lung microbiome of healthy adults in Malawi: a cross-sectional study

Rylance, Jamie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2323-3611, Kankwatira, Anstead, Nelson, David E., Toh, Evelyn, Day, Richard B, Lin, Huaiying, Gao, Xiang, Dong, Qunfeng, Sodergren, Erica, Weinstock, George M, Heyderman, Robert S, Twigg III, Homer L and Gordon, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6576-1116 (2016) 'Household air pollution and the lung microbiome of healthy adults in Malawi: a cross-sectional study'. BMC Microbiology, Vol 16, e182.

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Abstract

Background
Domestic combustion of biomass fuels, such as wood, charcoal, crop residue and dung causes Household Air Pollution (HAP). These inhaled particulates affect more than half of the world’s population, causing respiratory problems such as infection and inflammatory lung disease. We examined whether the presence of black carbon in alveolar macrophages was associated with alterations in the lung microbiome in a Malawi population.

Methods
Bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 44 healthy adults were sequenced using 16S rDNA amplification to assess microbial diversity, richness and relative taxa abundance. Individuals were classified as high or low particulate exposure as determined by questionnaire and the percentage of black carbon within their alveolar macrophages.

Results
Subjects in the low and high particulate groups did not differ in terms of source of fuels used for cooking or lighting. There was no difference in alpha or beta diversity by particulate group. Neisseria and Streptococcus were significantly more abundant in samples from high particulate exposed individuals, and Tropheryma was found less abundant. Petrobacter abundance was higher in people using biomass fuel for household cooking and lighting, compared with exclusive use of electricity.

Conclusions
Healthy adults in Malawi exposed to higher levels of particulates have higher abundances of potentially pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus, Neisseria) within their lung microbiome. Domestic biomass fuel use was associated with an uncommon environmental bacterium (Petrobacter) associated with oil-rich niches.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: QW Microbiology and Immunology > QW 4 General works. Classify here works on microbiology as a whole.
WA Public Health > Air pollution > WA 754 Pollution and pollutants (incl. tobacco pollution; passive smoking)
WF Respiratory System > Lungs > WF 600 Lungs
WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Lymphatic System > WH 650 Reticuloendothelial system
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-016-0803-7
Depositing User: Jessica Jones
Date Deposited: 04 Aug 2016 11:31
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2020 16:19
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/6045

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