The Bergen COPD microbiome study (MicroCOPD): rationale, design, and initial experiences

BACKGROUND: Recent methodological developments, in particular new sequencing methods for bacterial RNA/DNA, have shown that microorganisms reside in airways that do not suffer from acute infection and that respiratory microbiota might vary according to airways disease status. We aim to establish high-quality sampling methods for lower airways microbiota as well as describe the respiratory microbiome in subjects with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to relate the microbiome to disease development, progression, and the host immune system. METHODS: The Bergen COPD microbiome study (MicroCOPD) is a longitudinal study aiming to collect data from 200 subjects with COPD as well as 150 individuals without COPD. At baseline, subjects go through a bronchoscopy in which protected specimen brushes, small-volume lavage, bronchoalveolar lavage, and bronchial biopsies provide a unique chance to analyze the microbiota and the host immune system status. These variables will be related to baseline clinical parameters (lung function, smoking status, exacerbation frequency, arterial blood gases, comorbidities, and medications) as well as follow-up parameters (lung function changes, exacerbation frequency, mortality, and more). RESULTS: Per date more than 150 bronchoscopies have been performed, equally distributed between cases and controls, with a very low complication frequency. CONCLUSIONS: MicroCOPD will provide unique data on a large material, with insight on a new field of respiratory research.