2Bronchiectasis is accompanied by chronic bronchial infection that may drive disease progression.3 However, the evidence base for antibiotic therapy is limited. DNA based methods offer better 4 identification and quantification of microbial constituents of sputum than standard clinical culture and 5 may help inform patient management strategies. Our study objective was to determine the longitudinal 6 variability of the non-CF bronchiectasis microbiome in sputum with respect to clinical variables. 7 Eighty-five patients with non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis and daily sputum production were 8 recruited from outpatient clinics and followed for six months. Monthly sputum samples and clinical 9 measurements were taken, together with additional samples during exacerbations. 16S rRNA gene 1 0 sequencing of the sputum microbiota was successful for 381 samples from 76 patients and analysed 1 1 in conjunction with clinical data.
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