Interpreting infective microbiota: the importance of an ecological perspective

Geraint B. Rogers; Lucas R. Hoffman; Mary P. Carroll; Kenneth D. Bruce

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2013.03.004

Interpreting infective microbiota: the importance of an ecological perspective

Geraint B. Rogers^*
, Lucas R. Hoffman
, Mary P. Carroll
, Kenneth D. Bruce

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute of Pharmaceutical Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Complex microbiota are being reported increasingly across a range of chronic infections, including those of the cystic fibrosis airways. Such diversity fits poorly into classical models of sterile tissue infections, which generally involve one species, and where microbe-outcome associations usually imply causality. It has been suggested that microbiota at sites of infection could represent pathogenic entities, analogous to individual species. We argue that our ability to identify causality in microbiota-disease associations is, however, inherently confounded. Although particular microbiota may be associated with clinical outcomes, niche characteristics at sites of infection will shape microbiota composition through exerting selective pressures. Here, we suggest that ecological theory can inform clinical understanding.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	271-276
Number of pages	6
Journal	Trends in Microbiology
Volume	21
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2013.03.004
Publication status	Published - Jun 2013

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

microbiome
respiratory
ecological theory
disease causality
CYSTIC-FIBROSIS
PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA
INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA
BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES
GUT MICROBIOTA
DISEASE
DYNAMICS
CHILDREN
AIRWAYS
HOST

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10.1016/j.tim.2013.03.004

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title = "Interpreting infective microbiota: the importance of an ecological perspective",

abstract = "Complex microbiota are being reported increasingly across a range of chronic infections, including those of the cystic fibrosis airways. Such diversity fits poorly into classical models of sterile tissue infections, which generally involve one species, and where microbe-outcome associations usually imply causality. It has been suggested that microbiota at sites of infection could represent pathogenic entities, analogous to individual species. We argue that our ability to identify causality in microbiota-disease associations is, however, inherently confounded. Although particular microbiota may be associated with clinical outcomes, niche characteristics at sites of infection will shape microbiota composition through exerting selective pressures. Here, we suggest that ecological theory can inform clinical understanding.",

keywords = "microbiome, respiratory, ecological theory, disease causality, CYSTIC-FIBROSIS, PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA, INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA, BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES, GUT MICROBIOTA, DISEASE, DYNAMICS, CHILDREN, AIRWAYS, HOST",

author = "Rogers, \{Geraint B.\} and Hoffman, \{Lucas R.\} and Carroll, \{Mary P.\} and Bruce, \{Kenneth D.\}",

year = "2013",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.tim.2013.03.004",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

pages = "271--276",

journal = "Trends in Microbiology",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Interpreting infective microbiota: the importance of an ecological perspective

AU - Rogers, Geraint B.

AU - Hoffman, Lucas R.

AU - Carroll, Mary P.

AU - Bruce, Kenneth D.

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - Complex microbiota are being reported increasingly across a range of chronic infections, including those of the cystic fibrosis airways. Such diversity fits poorly into classical models of sterile tissue infections, which generally involve one species, and where microbe-outcome associations usually imply causality. It has been suggested that microbiota at sites of infection could represent pathogenic entities, analogous to individual species. We argue that our ability to identify causality in microbiota-disease associations is, however, inherently confounded. Although particular microbiota may be associated with clinical outcomes, niche characteristics at sites of infection will shape microbiota composition through exerting selective pressures. Here, we suggest that ecological theory can inform clinical understanding.

AB - Complex microbiota are being reported increasingly across a range of chronic infections, including those of the cystic fibrosis airways. Such diversity fits poorly into classical models of sterile tissue infections, which generally involve one species, and where microbe-outcome associations usually imply causality. It has been suggested that microbiota at sites of infection could represent pathogenic entities, analogous to individual species. We argue that our ability to identify causality in microbiota-disease associations is, however, inherently confounded. Although particular microbiota may be associated with clinical outcomes, niche characteristics at sites of infection will shape microbiota composition through exerting selective pressures. Here, we suggest that ecological theory can inform clinical understanding.

KW - microbiome

KW - respiratory

KW - ecological theory

KW - disease causality

KW - CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

KW - PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

KW - INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA

KW - BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES

KW - GUT MICROBIOTA

KW - DISEASE

KW - DYNAMICS

KW - CHILDREN

KW - AIRWAYS

KW - HOST

U2 - 10.1016/j.tim.2013.03.004

DO - 10.1016/j.tim.2013.03.004

M3 - Literature review

SN - 0966-842X

VL - 21

SP - 271

EP - 276

JO - Trends in Microbiology

JF - Trends in Microbiology

IS - 6

ER -

Interpreting infective microbiota: the importance of an ecological perspective

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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