Sputum Microbiota in Coal Workers Diagnosed With Pneumoconiosis as Revealed by 16S Metagenomic Sequencing

Abstract

Objectives: The microbiome of sputum from former and active coal miners diagnosed with coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) as compared to healthy controls Methods: Next Generation Sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes obtained from the sputum of CWP subjects.Results: Differences were detected between the sputum microbiomes from the healthy and CWP subjects. We noted a significant decrease in Bacteroidetes and an increase in the level of Proteobacteria.Conclusions: The microbiomes found in sputum from CWP subjects are enriched in bacterial species previously reported to induce pro-inflammatory responses. The profile of the microbiomes correlated mainly to the occupational activity and not to the age of the coal miners.