Investigation of diabetes-induced changes to the lung microbiome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comparison of two approaches, using next-generation sequencing, to identify if the lung microbiome is altered in people with lung disease and diabetes compared to those without diabetes
IRAS ID
256124
Contact name
Stanislavs Vasiljevs
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St Georges University London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Contrary to the popular belief that the lungs are sterile, it was recently discovered that the lung is inhabited by resident bacteria and that it possesses its own unique microbiome (microbiome - all bacteria and their genes at a specific location). Several chronic lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have been shown to induce changes to the resident lung microbiome.
High blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) has been linked to increased glucose concentration in the airway surface liquid (ASL). This has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing pulmonary infections in patients in the intensive care unit and in patients who have diabetes and chronic lung diseases.
Next-generation sequencing utilising amplification of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene has become the standard for identifying bacterial species in the microbiota. 16S gene is present in all bacteria and allows precise species identification from a small amount of starting material, making it a strong choice for analysis of the samples with low bacterial yield, such as samples of lung microbiome.
Currently, sampling the lung microbiome requires invasive methods such as lung biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage or induced sputum. It is possible to collect samples of lung microbiome non-invasively using non-induced sputum, however, that requires the patient to be a sputum producer.
This studies goal is to develop a non-invasive approach of sampling lung microbiome that would be applicable to every person.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0122
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion