Analysis of microbial communities of ocular prostheses and anophthalmic sockets using 16S rRNA gene sequencing

Abstract

Ocular prostheses are liable to host microbial adhesion, which can favor conjunctival inflammation. Knowing the microbiota of the ocular prosthesis and anophthalmic socket is important for predicting infection-related pathogens. This study evaluated the microbiota of the prostheses and anophthalmic sockets of six individuals by 16S rRNA sequencing. The microbial abundance and diversity were analyzed using the Operational Taxonomic Units at the genus level. Forty-seven phyla, capturing 1,258 named genera, were recorded in the sample set. In both sites, the most frequent genera were Fusobacterium, Staphylococcus, Prevotella, and Streptococcus. The microbial abundance was higher for the anophthalmic socket than for the prosthesis. Alpha diversity showed no significant differences in bacterial richness or diversity between sites. Although the microbial abundance in the anophthalmic socket was higher, both sites had similar microbiota with high diversity and low dominance among the genera.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Microbiota
• anophthalmic socket
• ocular prostheses
• 16S rRNA-sequencing

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Brazil (CAPES).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data will be made available on request.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Brazil – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.