Blood and sputum microbiota composition in Afghan immigrants and Iranian subjects with pulmonary tuberculosis

Ali Nour Neamatollahi; Samira Tarashi; Nayereh Ebrahimzadeh; Farzam Vaziri; Mohammad Ali Zaheri Birgani; Mohammadreza Aghasadeghi; Abolfazl Fateh; Seyed Davar Siada; Saeid Bouzari

doi:10.18502/ijm.v16i3.15766

Ali Nour Neamatollahi Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Samira Tarashi Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Nayereh Ebrahimzadeh Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Farzam Vaziri Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Ali Zaheri Birgani Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammadreza Aghasadeghi Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Abolfazl Fateh Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Davar Siada Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Saeid Bouzari Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v16i3.15766

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Bacteroidetes; Firmicutes; Actinobacteria; Proteobacteria

Abstract

Background and Objectives: TB infection is one of the most challengeable epidemiological issues. Complex interactions between microbiota and TB infection have been demonstrated. Alteration in microbial population during TB infection may act as a useful biomarker. The present study examined the microbiota patterns of blood and sputum samples collected from Afghan immigrants and Iranian patients with active TB.

Materials and Methods: Sixty active pulmonary TB patients were enrolled in the study. Blood and sputum samples were collected. To detect phylum bacterial composition in the blood and sputum samples, bacterial 16S rRNA quantification by Real-Time qPCR was performed.

Results: A significant decrease in Bacteroidetes in Iranian sputum and blood samples of Afghan immigrants and Iranian TB active subjects were seen. While, sputum samples of Afghan immigrants showed no significant differences in Bacteroidetes abundance among TB active and control. Firmicutes were also presented no significant difference between sputum samples of the two races. Actinobacteria showed a significant increase in Iranian and Afghan sputum samples while this phylum showed no significant abundance in Iranian and Afghan TB positive blood samples. Proteobacteria also showed an increase in sputum and blood samples of the two races.

Conclusion: An imbalance in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes abundance may cause an alteration in the microbiota compo- sition, resulting in dysregulated immune responses and resulting in the augmentation of opportunistic pathogens during TB infection, notably Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Evaluation of human microbiota under different conditions of TB infection can be critical to a deeper understanding of the disease control.