IL-17 signalling restructures the nasal microbiome and drives dynamic changes following Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization

Ritchie, N. D., Ijaz, U. Z. and Evans, T. J. (2017) IL-17 signalling restructures the nasal microbiome and drives dynamic changes following Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization. BMC Genomics, 18, 807. (doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4215-3) (PMID:29058583) (PMCID:PMC5651609)

[img]
Preview
Text
147972.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

5MB

Abstract

Background: The bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the nasopharynx prior to causing disease, necessitating successful competition with the resident microflora. Cytokines of the IL-17 family are important in host defence against this pathogen but their effect on the nasopharyngeal microbiome is unknown. Here we analyse the influence of IL-17 on the composition and interactions of the nasopharyngeal microbiome before and after pneumococcal colonization. Results: Using a murine model and 16S rRNA profiling, we found that a lack of IL-17 signalling led to profound alterations in the nasal but not lung microbiome characterized by decreased diversity and richness, increases in Proteobacteria and reduction in Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria. Following experimental pneumococcal nasal inoculation, animals lacking IL-17 family signalling showed increased pneumococcal colonization, though both wild type and knockout animals showed as significant disruption of nasal microbiome composition, with increases in the proportion of Proteobacteria, even in animals that did not have persistent colonization. Sparse correlation analysis of the composition of the microbiome at various time points after infection showed strong positive interactions within the Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, but strong antagonism between members of these two phyla. Conclusions: These results show the powerful influence of IL-17 signalling on the composition of the nasal microbiome before and after pneumococcal colonization, and apparent lack of interspecific competition between pneumococci and other Firmicutes. IL-17 driven changes in nasal microbiome composition may thus be an important factor in successful resistance to pneumococcal colonization and potentially could be manipulated to augment host defence against this pathogen.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ritchie, Dr Neil and Evans, Professor Tom and Ijaz, Dr Umer
Authors: Ritchie, N. D., Ijaz, U. Z., and Evans, T. J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
Journal Name:BMC Genomics
Publisher:BioMed Central
ISSN:1471-2164
ISSN (Online):1471-2164
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMC Genomics 18: 807
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
559131The role of Th17 immunity in pneumococcal diseaseTom EvansMedical Research Council (MRC)G1001998III - BACTERIOLOGY