Probiotics might ameliorate the dysbiosis of CF gut microbiota, characterized by a high density of Proteobacterial organisms. L. reuteri significantly decrease intestinal inflammation and increase digestive comfort.

IntroductionFor the optimal management of children with cystic fibrosis, there are currently no efficient tools for the precise adjustment of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, either for advice on appropriate dietary intake or for achieving an optimal nutrition status. Therefore, we aim to develop a mobile application that ensures a successful nutritional therapy in children with cystic fibrosis.Methods and analysisA multidisciplinary team of 12 partners coordinate their efforts in 9 work packages that cover the entire so-called ‘from laboratory to market’ approach by means of an original and innovative co-design process. A cohort of 200 patients with cystic fibrosis aged 1–17 years are enrolled. We will develop an innovative, clinically tested mobile health application for patients and health professionals involved in cystic fibrosis management. The mobile application integrates the research knowledge and innovative tools for maximising self-management with the aim of leading to a better nutritional status, quality of life and disease prognosis. Bringing together different and complementary areas of knowledge is fundamental for tackling complex challenges in disease treatment, such as optimal nutrition and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in cystic fibrosis. Patients are expected to benefit the most from the outcomes of this innovative project.Ethics and disseminationThe project is approved by the Ethics Committee of the coordinating organisation, Hospital Universitari La Fe (Ref: 2014/0484). Scientific findings will be disseminated via journals and conferences addressed to clinicians, food scientists, information and communications technology experts and patients. The specific dissemination working group within the project will address the wide audience communication through the website (http://www.mycyfapp.eu), the social networks and the newsletter.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung microbiota composition has recently been redefined by the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) tools, identifying, among others, previously undescribed anaerobic and uncultivable bacteria. In the present study, we monitored the fluctuations of this ecosystem in 15 CF patients during a 1-year follow-up period, describing for the first time, as far as we know, the presence of predator bacteria in the CF lung microbiome. In addition, a new computational model was developed to ascertain the hypothetical ecological repercussions of a prey-predator interaction in CF lung microbial communities. Fifteen adult CF patients, stratified according to their pulmonary function into mild (n = 5), moderate (n = 9), and severe (n = 1) disease, were recruited at the CF unit of the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). Each patient contributed three or four induced sputum samples during a 1-year follow-up period. Lung microbiota composition was determined by both cultivation and NGS techniques and was compared with the patients’ clinical variables. Results revealed a particular microbiota composition for each patient that was maintained during the study period, although some fluctuations were detected without any clinical correlation. For the first time, Bdellovibrio and Vampirovibrio predator bacteria were shown in CF lung microbiota and reduced-genome bacterial parasites of the phylum Parcubacteria were also consistently detected. The newly designed computational model allows us to hypothesize that inoculation of predators into the pulmonary microbiome might contribute to the control of chronic colonization by CF pathogens in early colonization stages.

Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) are two severe invasive pests widespread in all Argentinean fruit-producing regions. Both coexist with the Neotropical pest Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) in northern Argentina. The northwestern region shelters major soft fruit and Citrus producing and exporting industries, which are heavily affected by these dipterans. Eco-friendly strategies are under assessment in Argentina. This study mainly assessed D. suzukii, C. capitata, and A. fraterculus temporal abundance variations and their natural parasitism levels on a 1.5-ha-patch of feral peach trees within a disturbed secondary subtropical rainforest of northwestern Argentina. Fly puparia were mainly collected from the soil under fallen peach. Sampling was performed over three peach fruiting seasons. The most abundant pest species was C. capitata. Drosophila suzukii was only found in the last collecting period, but outnumbered A. fraterculus. Natural parasitism distinctly affected the temporal abundance of these dipterans: it significantly depressed C. capitata abundance in last sampling weeks, it did not substantially affect D. suzukii abundance, but it increased synchronously with the increase in the A. fraterculus abundance. Parasitism on C. capitata was mostly exerted by a combination of both a cosmopolitan pupal and a native larval parasitoid, while A. fraterculus was mainly parasitized by two indigenous larval parasitoids. Only three resident pupal parasitoids were associated with D. suzukii, of which the cosmopolitan Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was the most significant. Data on the resident parasitoid impact are relevant for designing biocontrol strategies in noncrop habitats.