![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Clinical relevance
The pathogenesis of chronic dacryocystitis (CDC) is associated with a variety of bacteria. Investigating microflora has the potential to provide a theoretical basis for preventing and treating CDC.
Background
16S rRNA sequencing is a sequence-based bacterial analysis. The application of 16S rRNA sequencing in CDC is rarely reported.
Methods
A case-control study of infected and healthy eyes diagnosed as CDC patients was conducted. Seventy-eight patients were divided into A (conjunctival sac secretions from healthy eyes), B (conjunctival sac secretions from affected eyes), and C (lacrimal sac secretions from affected eyes) groups. The flora of samples was analysed with 16S rRNA sequencing, and the data was analysed using QIIME, R, LefSE and other software. The potential functions were analysed by PICRUSt.
Results
A total of 1440 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained, 139 specific to group A, 220 specific to group B, and 239 specific to group C. There was no significant difference in α index between the three groups. The beta diversity and grouping analysis data indicated that the three groups of flora were similar in species richness and diversity, but there were some differences in composition. In group A, the abundance of Pseudomonadaceae, Chlorobacteria, Moraceae, Staphylococcaceae, Bacillariophyceae, Immunobacterium spp. and Bacillus spp. was higher; in group B, the abundance of Burkholderiaceae, Sphingomonas, Rhizobia, Stalked Bacteria, Sphingomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Shortwaveomonas spp. was higher; in group C, the abundance of Streptococcus digestiveis, Propionibacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, Anaerobacteriaceae, Propionibacteriaceae, Bacillus spp. Neisseria spp. and Shortactomonas spp. was higher. Six pathways were identified to assess the potential microbial functions.
Conclusion
Alterations in the microbiota of the conjunctiva and lacrimal sac are associated with the pathogenesis of CDC, which may provide certain guidance for antibiotic treatment of CDC.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Author contributions
Lin Ye and Meina Yang designed the research; Meina Yang and Beian Liu performed the research; Yongxin Zhang, Beian Liu, Shixu Li, Yunhao Qu, Yingge Ma and Meina Yang analysed the data; Jun Mei, and Yongxin Zhang wrote the paper. Lin Ye and Jun Mei reviewed and edited the manuscript. Yongxin Zhang and Lin Ye supervised this study. All the authors contributed substantially to the revision of the manuscript.
Data availability statement
Data will be made available on request.
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2024.2358246.