Conference poster
Molecular Signatures of Haemophilus influenzae Lung Adaptation in Paediatric Chronic Lung Disease
ASM Microbe, 2019 (San Francisco, United States, 20-Jun-2019–24-Jun-2019)
American Society for Microbiology
2019
Abstract
Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), a commensal bacterium of the upper respiratory tract of healthy children, can infect the lower airways, driving chronic lung disease. Despite its aetiological role in disease, the molecular basis underpinning NTHi transition to from a commensal to a pathogenic organism is poorly understood. In this study, we performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses of 12 paired, isogenic NTHi strains, isolated from the nasopharynx (NP) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of 11 children with chronic lung disease, to identify convergent molecular signatures associated with lung adaptation. Phylogenomic analysis demonstrated that non-paired isolates were genetically diverse, with no NP or BAL associated clade. Comparative genomic analyses of NP-BAL pairs demonstrated that five pairs were genetically identical, with the remaining seven pairs differing by only 1 to 3 mutations. Within-patient transcriptomic analyses detected between 2 and 58 differentially expressed (DE) genes in eight NP-BAL pairs, with no DE genes observed in the remaining four pairs. DE genes were associated with virulence, immune modulation, epithelial cell adhesion and biofilm formation. Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant under-representation of DE genes involved in translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis, and over-representation in cell motility, secretion, and carbohydrate transport/metabolism categories. This observed trend amongst genetically-unrelated NTHi strains provides preliminary evidence of convergent transcriptional adaptation of NTHi to paediatric airways that deserves further exploration. Understanding the pathoadaptative mechanisms that NTHi employs to infect and persist in paediatric airways is essential for devising targeted diagnostics and treatments aimed at minimising disease severity, and ultimately, preventing NTHi lung infections and subsequent on-going chronic lung disease.
Details
- Title
- Molecular Signatures of Haemophilus influenzae Lung Adaptation in Paediatric Chronic Lung Disease
- Authors
- A Aziz (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityDerek S Sarovich (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastE Nosworthy (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityJ Beissbarth (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityA B Chang (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityH Smith-Vaughan (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityErin P Price (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastT M Harris (Author) - Charles Darwin University
- Conference details
- ASM Microbe, 2019 (San Francisco, United States, 20-Jun-2019–24-Jun-2019)
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- Date published
- 2019
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Reproduced with permission.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451467102621
- Output Type
- Conference poster
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