Shotgun metagenomic sequencing analysis of ocular surface microbiome in Singapore residents with mild dry eye

Louis Tong, Florentin Constancias, Aihua Hou, Song Lin Chua, Daniela I. Drautz-Moses, Stephan Christoph Schuster, Liang Yang, Rohan B.H. Williams, Staffan Kjelleberg

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The ocular surface microbiome has implications for ocular surface inflammation and immunology. Previous shotgun metagenomics analyses were performed in China, showing results that differed according to environment and age. Patients with Sjogren’s syndrome were reported to have altered conjunctival microbiome, but such studies have not been done in milder dry eye. The aim of this study is to describe the conjunctival microbiome in people with mild dry eye in Singapore. Samples were collected from 14 participants with mild dry eye and 10 age-matched comparison participants recruited from Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) clinics. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing analysis was employed to evaluate the conjunctival microbiome composition. Proteobacteria formed the predominant phylum in the conjunctiva. As in a study from a coastal city in China, Achromobacter spp. was numerically most abundant. Compared to age-matched controls, the conjunctival microbial composition in mild dry eye was similar. Several microorganisms, including Streptococcus spp. increased in representation with age, and the abundance of Staphylococcus correlated with Schirmer readings. In addition, when cultured corneal epithelial cells were exposed to three strains of Achromobacter xylosoxidans, cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 were upregulated in the cell lysates and supernatants. Ourresults suggest that age is an important factor that affects composition of the conjunctival microbiome, and relative abundance of specific microorganism may vary according to the environment of the human host.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1034131
JournalFrontiers in Medicine
Volume9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • dry eye
  • human microbiome
  • inflammation
  • metagenomics
  • ocular disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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