16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals an altered composition of gut microbiota in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia treated with azithromycin

[摘要] Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most important pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia in children, and the pathogenic mechanismof M. pneumoniae infection is complex. Azithromycin is an effective agent for treating the acquiredlower respiratory tract infection and urogenitaltract infection with slight adverse reactions. Thisstudy aimed to compare the intestinal microflorabefore (PP1) and after azithromycin intervention(PP2) in children with pneumonia caused byM. pneumoniae, combined with body fluid biochemical analysis to determine the intestinal flora affecting the progress of the disease. Fifteen childrendiagnosed with M. pneumoniae pneumonia wererecruited. The fecal samples and clinical biochemical data were collected. 16S rRNA gene ampliconsequencing and bioinformatics analysis were conducted by the Beijing Genomics Institute. The operational taxonomic unit abundance analysis showedsignificant differences between the two groups. Thespecies richness analysis showed differences in class,family, genus, order, species, and phylum. Theabundance of Haemophilus, Pasteurellales, andPasteurellaceae was found to be significantly higherin the PP1 group. The Pearson correlation analysisshowed that the microbes strongly correlated withthe clinical features. 16S rRNA gene sequencing datarevealed altered composition of gut microbiota inchildren with M. pneumoniae pneumonia treatedwith azithromycin. The altered expression ofmicrobes correlated with clinical features, whichmight help diagnose and treat the disease.

[学科分类] 微生物学和免疫学

[关键词] Azithromycin;gut microbiota;Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia;16S rRNA