Lung Microbiota in Tuberculosis. There are No Small Roles, Only Small Actors

Abstract

After receiving less attention compared to other body sites, the study of the lung microbiota has started to emerge during the past few years. It is still unclear if changes in the lung microbiota composition are associated with Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB). The limited number of studies on the sputum microbiota on TB patients and controls available so far has reported somewhat contradictory results. This could be due to technological difficulties related to obtaining reliable samples as compared to other body niches, or due to differences in the geographical origin of these samples. Despite the inconsistencies they do suggest that the lung microbiota in TB patients differs from healthy individuals. Understanding the composition of the lung microbiota in health and comparing it to that of pulmonary TB cases may elicit clues into the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection at the pulmonary alveolus, and may help design treatment options for TB with potential direct benefits for patients and public health.