Short-term particulate matter exposure influences nasal microbiota in a population of healthy subjects

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 162; pp. 119 - 126
• Main Authors: Mariani, Jacopo, Favero, Chiara, Spinazzè, Andrea, Cavallo, Domenico Maria, Carugno, Michele, Motta, Valeria, Bonzini, Matteo, Cattaneo, Andrea, Pesatori, Angela Cecilia, Bollati, Valentina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.04.2018
• Subjects: 16S rRNA gene; Air Pollutants - toxicity; AIR POLLUTION; Air Pollution - adverse effects; DISEASES; Environmental Exposure; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Healthy Volunteers; HOMEOSTASIS; Humans; Microbiota; Microbiota - drug effects; NOSE; Particulate Matter; PARTICULATES; POLLUTANTS; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Microbiota; MS; Particulate matter; PCIS; Air pollution; PM; CTM; 16S rRNA gene
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.12.016

Exposure to air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), represents a growing health problem. The aim of our study was to investigate whether PM could induce a dysbiosis in the nasal microbiota in terms of α-diversity and taxonomic composition. We investigated structure and characteristics of the microbiota of 40 healthy subjects through metabarcoding analysis of the V3–V4 regions of the 16s rRNA gene. Exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 was assessed with a personal sampler worn for 24h before sample collection (Day −1) and with measurements from monitoring stations (from Day −2 to Day −7). We found an inverse association between PM10 and PM2.5 levels of the 3rd day preceding sampling (Day −3) and α-diversity indices (Chao1, Shannon and PD_whole_tree). Day −3 PM was inversely associated also with the majority of analyzed taxa, except for Moraxella, which showed a positive association. In addition, subjects showed different structural profiles identifying two groups: one characterized by an even community and another widely dominated by the Moraxella genus. Our findings support the role of PM exposure in influencing microbiota and altering the normal homeostasis within the bacterial community. Whether these alterations could have a role in disease development and/or exacerbation needs further research. •We evaluated whether PM could induce a dysbiosis in the nasal microbiota.•PM exposure reduces the diversity within the microbiota community.•PM alters microbiota homeostasis potentially influencing disease development.