Approaches to analyse dynamic microbial communities such as those seen in cystic fibrosis lung

Pulmonary Bacterial Communities in Surgically Resected Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis Lungs Are Similar to Those in Cystic Fibrosis

Background. Recurrent bacterial infections play a key role in the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis, but conventional microbiologic methods may fail to identify pathogens in many cases. We characterized and compared the pulmonary bacterial communities of cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis patients using a culture-independent molecular approach. Methods. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene librarie...

Mini-Review Microbial ecology of the cystic fibrosis lung

Understanding the microbial flora of the cystic fibrosis (CF) respiratory tract is of considerable importance, as patient morbidity and death are primarily caused by chronic respiratory infections. However, chronically colonized CF airways represent a surprisingly complex and diverse ecosystem. The precise contributions of different microbes to patient morbidity, and in particular the importanc...

new treatment approaches of pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis lung disease

Cystic fibrosis: molecular approaches to diagnosis.

Whole blood collected on filter paper (Guthrie cards) has provided an excellent means for screening inborn errors of metabolism in neonates. Traditional biochemical methods adapted for use with this collection device have proven instrumental in the detection of many congenital defects such as phenylketonuria, galactosemia, hypothyroidism and hemoglobinopathies. The advent of molecular technique...

Lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis.

Lung transplantation has become a viable option for those cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with end-stage lung disease. Despite the challenges that the CF patients present, the survival seen after lung transplantation is more favorable than seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis. Although the CF patients with severe respiratory disease usually are infect...