Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO835

The Composition of the Human Nasal Microbiome in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Pilot Study

Session Information

• Glomerular Diseases: Immunology and Inflammation - I
  October 25, 2018 | Location: Exhibit Hall, San Diego Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Glomerular Diseases

• 1202 Glomerular Diseases: Immunology and Inflammation

Authors

• Kronbichler, Andreas, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

Andreas Kronbichler,

• Harrison, Ewan M., Welcome Sanger Institue, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Ewan M. Harrison,

• Martinez del pero, Marcos, West Suffolk Hospital / Cambridge University Hospitals, Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom

Marcos Martinez del pero,

• Blane, Beth, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Beth Blane,

• Mayer, Gert J., Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

Gert J. Mayer,

• Leierer, Johannes, Medical University Innsbruck, Int.Medicine IV, Nephrology & Hypertension, Innsbruck, Austria

Johannes Leierer,

• Gopaluni, Seerapani, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Seerapani Gopaluni,

• Holmes, Mark A., University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Mark A. Holmes,

• Parkhill, Julian, The Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Julian Parkhill,

• Peacock, Sharon J., London School of Hyigene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

Sharon J. Peacock,

• Jayne, David R.W., University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

David R.W. Jayne,

• Wagner, Josef, VIDRL, Melbourne, New South Wales, Australia

Josef Wagner,

Background

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, formerly Wegener’s granulomatosis) is a multi-system disease predominantly affecting the ear, nose and throat (ENT) tract, the lower respiratory tract and the kidneys. A role for Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in GPA has been proposed and thus we undertook a study to determine the role of the nasal microbiome in GPA.

Methods

We investigated the nasal microbiome by culture, bacterial 16S rRNA profiling, and shotgun metagenomic sequencing in patients with either active or inactive GPA, disease controls (microscopic polyangiitis or eosinophilic GPA), healthy healthcare professionals and healthy household controls.

Results

Presence of S. aureus as assessed by nasal culture could be detected in eight out of 12 active GPA patients (66.7%), which was more frequent compared to inactive patients (34.1%). Beta-diversity analysis revealed significant differences in the abundance of staphylococcal species between active GPA and healthy controls (p=0.0007) and disease controls (p=0.0023), while a correlation between S. aureus and active disease (p=0.0075) could be observed by Spearman correlation analysis. The presence of Staphylococcus epidermidis was associated with healthy controls (p=0.042). Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, generally assumed to be a dog- and cat-pathogen, showed an abundance of 13.01% among Staphylococci.

Conclusion

Our study offered new insights into the complex nasal microbiome of patients with GPA. We observed an association between active disease and S. aureus. Longitudinal studies are necessary to investigate the potential relationship of microbiome changes on the relapse rate of patients with GPA.