Performance of Mucorales spp. qPCR in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis.

To estimate the diagnostic performance of Mucorales polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in routine practice. This was a single-center retrospective study including all consecutive patients >18 years who underwent Mucorales PCR assay in BALF between January 2021 and May 2022. Index testing was prospectively performed using the MycoGENIE Aspergillus spp.-Mucorales spp. PCR. The reference was the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis by the Adjudication Committee. Mucorales PCR in BALF was performed for 938 patients and was positive for 21 of 938 (2.2%). Eleven pulmonary mucormycosis (including one disseminated) were diagnosed. Among them, one (9.1%) was classified as proven mucormycosis, three (27.3%) as probable, and seven (63.6%) as possible according to the EORTC/MSGERC 2019 criteria. The main host factor was hematological malignancy (10 of 11, 90.9%). Mucorales PCR was positive in serum for eight patients (72.7%). Three patients had positive PCR in BALF, but negative in serum. The mean cycle threshold value was significantly lower in mucormycosis than false-positive cases. Sensitivity was 72.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.4-90.3%), and specificity was 98.6% (95% CI, 97.6-99.2%). The positive and negative predictive values were 38.1% (95% CI, 20.8-59.1%) and 99.7% (95% CI, 99.1-99.9%), respectively. Mucorales PCR in BALF showed good diagnostic performance for mucormycosis, particularly in combination with serum PCR. A positive result should be interpreted with caution, given the possibility of carriage in the airway. However, its high negative predictive value and specificity suggest the utility of Mucorales PCR in BALF in the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis.

Lower airway microbiota compositions differ between influenza, COVID-19 and bacteria-related acute respiratory distress syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is responsible for 400,000 deaths annually worldwide. Few improvements have been made despite five decades of research, partially because ARDS is a highly heterogeneous syndrome including various types of aetiologies. Lower airway microbiota is involved in chronic inflammatory diseases and recent data suggest that it could also play a role in ARDS. Nevertheless, whether the lower airway microbiota composition varies between the aetiologies of ARDS remain unknown. The aim of this study is to compare lower airway microbiota composition between ARDS aetiologies, i.e. pulmonary ARDS due to influenza, SARS-CoV-2 or bacterial infection. METHODS: Consecutive ARDS patients according to Berlin's classification requiring invasive ventilation with PCR-confirmed influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infections and bacterial infections (> 105 CFU/mL on endotracheal aspirate) were included. Endotracheal aspirate was collected at admission, V3-V4 and ITS2 regions amplified by PCR, deep-sequencing performed on MiSeq sequencer (Illumina®) and data analysed using DADA2 pipeline. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were included, 24 COVID-19, 18 influenza, and 11 bacterial CAP-related ARDS. The lower airway bacteriobiota and mycobiota compositions (ß-diversity) were dissimilar between the three groups (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively). The bacterial α-diversity was significantly lower in the bacterial CAP-related ARDS group compared to the COVID-19 ARDS group (p = 0.04). In contrast, influenza-related ARDS patients had higher lung mycobiota α-diversity than the COVID-19-related ARDS (p = 0 < 01). CONCLUSION: Composition of lower airway microbiota (both microbiota and mycobiota) differs between influenza, COVID-19 and bacterial CAP-related ARDS. Future studies investigating the role of lung microbiota in ARDS pathophysiology should take aetiology into account.

Is there still a place for serum galactomannan in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in children at high risk and under antifungal prophylaxis?

BACKGROUND: The performance of serum galactomannan (GM) for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) has been studied mainly in adults. Paediatric data are scarce and based on small and heterogeneous cohorts. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of serum GM for the diagnosis of IA in a paediatric oncologic population at high risk of IA and to clarify the impact of antifungal prophylaxis on this test. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study from January 2014 to December 2020 in the paediatric oncologic haematologic department of the University Hospital of Bordeaux. The diagnosis of IA was made using the recommendations of the EORTC and the MSGERC. RESULTS: Among the 329 periods at high risk of IA in 222 patients, the prevalence of IA was 1.8% (3 proven and 3 probable IA). In the total population, the sensitivity, and the positive predictive value (PPV) were respectively 50% and 17.6%. Under antifungal prophylaxis, the sensitivity and PPV dropped, respectively, to 33.3% and 14.3%. In this group, the post-test probability of IA was 2% for a negative serum GM and only 14%. CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of children at high risk of IA, the incidence of IA is low and the diagnostic performance of GM is poor, especially in the case of mould-active prophylaxis. Screening should be targeted rather than systematic and should be reserved for patients at highest risk for IA without mould-active prophylaxis. Combination with other tests such as Aspergillus PCR would increase the accuracy of GM in screening setting.

Evaluation of Gradient Concentration Strips for Detection of Terbinafine Resistance in Trichophyton spp.

The number of dermatophytosis cases resistant to terbinafine is increasing all over the world. Therefore, there is a need for antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes for better management of the patients. In the present study, we have evaluated a gradient test (GT) method for testing the susceptibility of dermatophytes to terbinafine. MIC values to terbinafine determined by the EUCAST reference technique and by gradient test were compared for 79 Trichophyton spp. isolates. Overall, MICs were lower with gradient test (MIC50 of 0.002 µg/mL) than with EUCAST (MIC50 of 0.016 µg/mL). Good categorical agreement (>90%) between the 2 techniques was obtained but the essential agreement was variable depending on the batch of gradient test.

Hospital outbreak of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis: arguments for clonal transmission and long-term persistence.

The worldwide emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic fungi is a threat to human health. At this very moment, an emergence of Candida parapsilosis isolates harbouring a resistance to fluconazole, one of the most popular antifungal drugs, is being described in several countries. We seek to better understanding the epidemiology, pathogenicity and transmission of resistant Candida parapsilosis Faced with an outbreak of invasive infections due to resistant isolates of C. parapsilosis, we performed a 7-year retrospective and prospective analysis of 283 C. parapsilosis isolates collected in 240 patients, among who 111 had invasive candidiasis. Study included review of hospital records, genotyping analysis and susceptibility testing that allow determining the type and outcome of infections, as well as the spatial and temporal spread of clusters. Overall the incidence of azole resistance was 7.5%. Genotyping analysis unveiled several previously undetected outbreaks and clonal spread of susceptible and resistant isolates over a long period of time. In comparison with susceptible isolates, resistant ones have a more restricted genetic diversity and seem to be more likely to spread and more frequently associated with invasive infections. In intensive care units, patients with invasive infections due to resistant isolates had poorer outcome (overall mortality at day 30 of 40%; 4/10) than susceptible ones (overall mortality at day 30 of 26.5%; 9/34). Our results suggest that the propensity of C. parapsilosis to spread on an epidemic fashion is underestimated, which warrants reinforced control and epidemiological survey of this species.

Reliability of a terbinafine agar containing method for the screening of dermatophyte resistance.

The increase in terbinafine resistance worldwide due to Trichophyton indotineae underlies the need for surveillance networks, deploying easy to perform methods to correctly identify resistant isolates and thereby reduce their spread. In the present study, we evaluated the performances of the terbinafine containing agar method (TCAM). Different technical parameters, such as culture medium (RPMI agar [RPMIA] or Sabouraud dextrose agar [SDA]) and inoculum size, were evaluated. Our study showed that terbinafine susceptibility determined using the TCAM was reliable and independent of the inoculum or medium used. We then performed a multicenter, blinded study. 5 isolates of T. indotineae and 15 of genotype I or II of T. interdigitale, including 5 terbinafine-resistant isolates (4 T. indotineae and 1 T. interdigitale), were sent to eight clinical microbiology laboratories. Each laboratory analyzed the 20 isolates' terbinafine susceptibility by the TCAM using both culture media. TCAM allowed all participants to correctly determine the terbinafine susceptibility of analyzed isolates without prior training. All participants agreed that the dermatophyte tested, regardless of species or genotype, grew better on SDA than on RPMIA medium but accumulated fungal growth after 14 days eventually minimized the effect of this difference. In conclusion, TCAM is a reliable, easy to perform screening method for assessing terbinafine resistance. However, despite good performances, TCAM is a qualitative method and minimal inhibitory concentrations must be determined by the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing standardized method to follow the evolution of terbinafine resistance levels.

The increase in terbinafine resistance worldwide due to Trichophyton indotineae underlies the need for surveillance networks. The terbinafine containing agar method is a reliable and easy-to-use tool in clinical microbiology laboratories. It can be used to rapidly screening resistant isolates, thereby reducing their spread.

Extensive Dermatophytosis Caused by Terbinafine-Resistant Trichophyton indotineae, France.

Extensive dermatophytosis caused by terbinafine-resistant Trichophyton indotineae harboring Phe397Leu and Leu393Ser substitutions in the squalene epoxidase enzyme was diagnosed in France. Analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequences revealed the wide spread of this species in Asia and Europe. Detection of T. indotineae in animals suggests their possible role as reservoirs.

Detection of circulating DNA for the diagnosis of invasive fusariosis: retrospective analysis of 15 proven cases.

Fusarium spp. are plant pathogens and opportunistic pathogens in severely immunocompromised (hematological malignancy, neutropenia, solid organ transplantation, etc.) and severely burned patients. Invasive fusariosis often disseminates and mortality remains high partly due to delayed diagnosis in the absence of a positive culture. The aim of our study is to design a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay and evaluate the detection of Fusarium spp. DNA for early diagnosis of invasive infection. A qPCR assay was designed and optimized to identify all Fusarium species complex and secondarily evaluated on patient samples. A total of 81 blood samples from 15 patients diagnosed with proven invasive fusariosis from 9 centers in France were retrospectively tested. Circulating DNA was detected in 14 patients out of 15 (sensitivity of 93% [95% Confidence Interval (CI95), 70.1-99.7]). Detection was possible up to 18 days (median 6 days) before the diagnosis was confirmed by positive blood culture or biopsy. By comparison serum galactomannan and ß-D-glucan were positive in 7.1 and 58.3% of patients respectively. qPCR was negative for all patients with other invasive fungal diseases (IFD) tested (n = 12) and IFD-free control patients (n = 40). No cross-reactions were detected using DNA extracted from 81 other opportunistic fungi. We developed and validated a pan-Fusarium qPCR assay in serum/plasma with high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility that could facilitate early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of invasive fusariosis. LAY ABSTRACT: Fusariosis ranks third among invasive mould infections. It is frequently diagnosed late due to the lack of specific tools. We designed and evaluated a new qPCR assay with high sensitivity and specificity allowing detection of Fusarium DNA in serum samples up to 18 days before conventional diagnosis.

Antifungal Susceptibility of 182 Fusarium Species Isolates from 20 European Centers: Comparison between EUCAST and Gradient Concentration Strip Methods.

We determined the susceptibility of 182 Fusarium species isolates to five antifungal drugs (amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole, and terbinafine) by the EUCAST method. Based on the latest taxonomic insights, isolates collected from 20 European centers were distributed into seven complexes and 27 species. The susceptibility was variable, depending on the species. Comparison with the gradient concentration strip method, which was used for 77 isolates, showed essential agreement values for voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole, and amphotericin B of 17%, 91%, 83%, and 70%, respectively.

Identification of Molds with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Performance of the Newly Developed MSI-2 Application in Comparison with the Bruker Filamentous Fungi Database and MSI-1.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) represents a promising tool for the rapid and efficient identification of molds, but improvements are still necessary to achieve satisfactory results when identifying cryptic species. Here, we aimed to validate a new web application, MSI-2, which replaces MSI-1, an application that was built and deployed online in 2017. For the evaluation, we gathered 633 challenging isolates obtained from daily hospital practice that were first identified with DNA-based methods, and we submitted their corresponding mass spectra to three identification programs (Bruker, MSI-1, and MSI-2). The MSI-2 application had a better identification performance at the species level than MSI-1 and Bruker, reaching 83.25% correct identifications, compared with 63.19% (MSI-1), 38.07% (Bruker with a 1.7 threshold), and 21.8% (Bruker with a 2.0 threshold). The MSI-2 application performed especially well for Aspergillus and Fusarium species, including for many cryptic species, reaching 90% correct identifications for Aspergillus species and 78% for Fusarium species compared to 69% and 43% with MSI-1. Such an improvement may have a positive impact on patient management by facilitating the identification of cryptic species potentially associated with a specific antifungal resistance profile.

Invasive aspergillosis due to Aspergillus cryptic species: A prospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES: Aspergillus cryptic species are increasingly recognised causes of Aspergillus diseases, including life-threatening invasive aspergillosis (IA). However, as their accurate identification remains challenging in a routine practice, few is known from a clinical and epidemiological perspective. Recently, the MSI application has emerged as a powerful tool for the detection and identification of Aspergillus cryptic species. We aimed to use to the network of users of the MSI application to conduct a multicentre prospective screening of Aspergillus cryptic species-related IA and analyse their epidemiological, clinical and mycological characteristics. METHODS: Over a 27-month period, the clinical involvement of 369 Aspergillus cryptic isolates, from 13 French and Danish MSI application users, was prospectively analysed. Species identification was confirmed by DNA-sequencing and antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using EUCAST reference method. Fifty-one A fumigatus sensu stricto invasive cases were also analysed. RESULTS: Fifteen cryptic isolates were responsible of IA. Eight species were involved, including 5 cases related to the species A sublatus. These species showed high rate of in vitro low susceptibility to antifungal drugs. In comparison with A fumigatus sensu stricto invasive cases, pre-exposure to azole drugs was significantly associated with cryptic IA (P = .02). DISCUSSION: This study brings new insights in cryptic species related IA and underlines the importance to identify accurately at the species level these Aspergillus isolates. The increasing use of antifungal drugs might lead in the future to an epidemiologic shift with an emergence of resistant isolates involved in IA.

Interpretation of very low avidity indices acquired with the Liaison XL Toxo IgG avidity assay in dating toxoplasmosis infection.

Congenital toxoplasmosis is an important cause of complications in pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis is often asymptomatic and thus serological tests are usually performed to screen for it. A first serum which exhibit both IgG and IgM may be due to nascent toxoplasmosis seroconversion, non-specific IgM reaction, or residual IgM. The IgG avidity test has been proposed to identify latent infections. A high index excludes recent toxoplasmosis whereas an intermediate or low index only suggests a recent infection, the caveats being that some people with latent Toxoplasma gondii infection show IgG with low or intermediate avidity. In this study, we investigated the ability of the Liaison XL Toxo IgG avidity (DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy) assay to confirm recent infection when IgG avidity index is very low (≤ 0.1). Four thousand two hundred ninety-seven sera exhibiting both IgG and IgM were included and avidity was performed on the Liaison device according to the manufacturer's recommendations. One hundred twenty-six sera on the 297 sera which exhibited very low IgG avidity indices (≤ 0.1) could be exploited: 97% of sera with IgG avidity indices < 0.05 actually corresponded to recent infection (less than 3 months). A similar but less pronounced trend was observed for the sera exhibiting indices between 0.05 and 0.1 (69% corresponded to recent infections). The IgG avidity index data we obtained with the Liaison XL Toxo device are similar to those obtained with other devices. This body of consistent results underlines the interest of very low IgG avidity indices as a sign of probable recent toxoplasmosis.

Multi-centric evaluation of the online MSI platform for the identification of cryptic and rare species of Aspergillus by MALDI-TOF.

The taxonomy of Aspergillus species has recently been revolutionized with the introduction of cryptic species and section concepts. However, their species-level identification in routine laboratories remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the identification accuracy of cryptic species of Aspergillus in various laboratories using the mass spectrometry identification (MSI) platform, an independent and freely accessible online mass spectrometry database. Over a 12-month period, when a select set of MSI users identified cryptic species, they were contacted and requested to send the isolates to our laboratory for sequence-based identification. Sequence and MSI identification results were then compared. During the study period, 5108 Aspergillus isolates were identified using MSI including 1477 (28.9%) cryptic species. A total of 245 isolates that corresponded to 56 cryptic species and 13 sections were randomly selected for DNA sequencing confirmation. Agreement between the two methods was 99.6% at the section level and 66.1% at the species level. However, almost all discrepancies (72/83, 86.7%) were misidentifications between closely related cryptic species belonging to the same section. Fifty-one isolates from noncryptic species were also identified, thus yielding 100% and 92.2% agreement at the section and species level, respectively. Although the MSI fungus database is a reliable tool to identify Aspergillus at the section level, the database still requires adjustment to correctly identify rare or cryptic species at the species level. Nevertheless, the application properly differentiated between cryptic and sensu stricto species in the same section, thus alerting on possible specific isolate characteristics.

[Serological monitoring and prevention of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy]. / Surveillance sérologique et prévention de la toxoplasmose chez la femme enceinte.

Serological monitoring and prevention of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Determination of the serological status against toxoplasmosis is mandatory in France during pregnancy. Recently, the national social welfare system decided to include new exams (IgG avidity and western-blot) useful to assess the serological status and to date the infection with a better accuracy. The role of the attending doctor is essential, particularly at the beginning of pregnancy and after delivery. We summarize here key points which must be known by a general practitioner to understand serological results and take care of his patients.

Surveillance sérologique et prévention de la toxoplasmose chez la femme enceinte. Le dépistage systématique de la toxoplasmose chez la femme enceinte est une obligation légale en France. Le code de nomenclature des actes de biologie médicale a intégré en 2019 de nouveaux examens (western-blot IgG et mesure de l'indice d'avidité des IgG) permettant d'établir le statut sérologique ou de dater l'infection avec une meilleure spécificité. La place du médecin traitant est essentielle dans la prise en charge de la grossesse, en particulier au moment de la déclaration et pour le suivi post-partum. Nous rappelons ici les éléments biologiques essentiels que tout praticien doit connaître et les éléments de la prise en charge à organiser en fonction des résultats sérologiques.

Aspergillus pseudodeflectus: a new human pathogen in liver transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplant recipients are at high risk of developing invasive aspergillosis and in particular by Aspergillus fumigatus which is the most commonly encountered species in this population. Other non-fumigatus Aspergillus species with reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs can also be involved. Accurate identification associated to antifungal susceptibility testing is essential for therapy adjustment. We report a case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus pseudodeflectus in a liver transplant recipient. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of invasive aspergillosis due to this species with a reduced susceptibility to azoles. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64 year-old woman with drug-induced fulminant hepatitis underwent liver transplantation. Prophylactic treatment with caspofungin was introduced due to aspergillosis risk factors consisting in hemodialysis and fulminant hepatitis. Six weeks after transplantation, CT scan showed a right pulmonary opacity associated with an increase of galactomannan (index 5.4). Culture of BAL grew with several colonies of Aspergillus sp. The diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis was probable according to the EORTC criteria. The antifungal susceptibility tests (Etest®) revealed low MICs to echinocandins and amphotericin B) but high MICs to azoles. After these results, voriconazole was switched to liposomal amphotericin B. The patient died one month after diagnosis from a refractory septic shock with multiple organ failure. A molecular identification of isolate, based on partial ß-tubulin and calmodulin genes, was performed and identified A. pseudodeflectus. CONCLUSIONS: Our case raises the question of pathogenicity of this species, which belongs to Aspergillus section Usti and is genetically and morphologically very close to Aspergillus calidoustus that was previously reported in human transplant recipients.

Calcineurin inhibitors impair neutrophil activity against Aspergillus fumigatus in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils are key effectors against the widely distributed mold Aspergillus fumigatus, which is a major threat for immunocompromised patients, including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Yet little is known about neutrophil activity over time after cell transplantation, especially regarding A fumigatus. OBJECTIVE: We aimed at assessing the activity of neutrophils on A fumigatus in allogeneic HSCT recipients at different posttransplantation time points. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal study involving 37 patients undergoing HSCT, drawing blood samples at engraftment and at 2, 6, and 10 months after the HSCT. Posttransplantation neutrophil activity in the recipients was compared with that of the respective donors. Neutrophil/A fumigatus coculture, flow cytometry, and video microscopy were used to assess neutrophil inhibition of fungal growth, cell/fungus interactions, reactive oxygen species production, major surface molecule expression, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. RESULTS: The ability of neutrophils to interfere with Aspergillus species hyphal growth was impaired after HSCT. The administration of calcineurin inhibitors appeared to play an important role in this impairment. We also observed that post-HSCT neutrophils produced less NETs, which was correlated with increased fungal growth. Tapering immunosuppression led to the recuperation of inhibition capacity 10 months after HSCT. CONCLUSION: In HSCT recipients neutrophil-driven innate immunity to fungi is altered in the early posttransplantation period (between recovery from neutropenia and up to 6 months). This alteration is at least partly related to administration of calcineurin inhibitors and diminution of NETs production.

Evolution of the physical characteristics of the French women's rugby players: A 10-year longitudinal analysis by position and team.

Introduction: The study aimed to interpret the evolution of the physical performance of rugby sevens and rugby union French international players from 2009 to 2020. Methods: 631 players from the French national teams were divided into three groups: forwards, backs and sevens. The performances evaluated were anthropometric characteristics, strength tests (1 RM bench press and 1 RM pull-up), aerobic capacity (YoYo IR1 test) and speed tests (10 m, 20 m and 50 m). The best performance of each player over a two-year period was kept for the analysis. Fluctuations were observed across the decade. Results: The anthropometric characteristics of female rugby sevens players tend to be taller and lighter than rugby union players. In rugby sevens, a moderate increase in maximal aerobic capacity was observed while sprint performances remained similar. Improvements in height and weight were observed over the last 10 years in rugby union players with a difference between the position. A moderate increase in sprinting performances and strength were observed both in backs and forwards. Discussion: The overall improvement of strength and conditioning performances and anthropometrical evolution reflects the rugby environment characterized by the arrival of professional contracts and the structuration process of the clubs which allows a better quality of training and easier access to the infrastructures of the very high level.

Improving the Detection of Epidemic Clones in Candida parapsilosis Outbreaks by Combining MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Deep Learning Approaches.

Identifying fungal clones propagated during outbreaks in hospital settings is a problem that increasingly confronts biologists. Current tools based on DNA sequencing or microsatellite analysis require specific manipulations that are difficult to implement in the context of routine diagnosis. Using deep learning to classify the mass spectra obtained during the routine identification of fungi by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry could be of interest to differentiate isolates belonging to epidemic clones from others. As part of the management of a nosocomial outbreak due to Candida parapsilosis in two Parisian hospitals, we studied the impact of the preparation of the spectra on the performance of a deep neural network. Our purpose was to differentiate 39 otherwise fluconazole-resistant isolates belonging to a clonal subset from 56 other isolates, most of which were fluconazole-susceptible, collected during the same period and not belonging to the clonal subset. Our study carried out on spectra obtained on four different machines from isolates cultured for 24 or 48 h on three different culture media showed that each of these parameters had a significant impact on the performance of the classifier. In particular, using different culture times between learning and testing steps could lead to a collapse in the accuracy of the predictions. On the other hand, including spectra obtained after 24 and 48 h of growth during the learning step restored the good results. Finally, we showed that the deleterious effect of the device variability used for learning and testing could be largely improved by including a spectra alignment step during preprocessing before submitting them to the neural network. Taken together, these experiments show the great potential of deep learning models to identify spectra of specific clones, providing that crucial parameters are controlled during both culture and preparation steps before submitting spectra to a classifier.

The gut-lung axis in the CFTR modulator era.

The advent of CFTR modulators represents a turning point in the history of cystic fibrosis (CF) management, changing profoundly the disease's clinical course by improving mucosal hydration. Assessing changes in airway and digestive tract microbiomes is of great interest to better understand the mechanisms and to predict disease evolution. Bacterial and fungal dysbiosis have been well documented in patients with CF; yet the impact of CFTR modulators on microbial communities has only been partially deciphered to date. In this review, we aim to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of CFTR modulators on both pulmonary and digestive microbiomes. Our analysis also covers the inter-organ connections between lung and gut communities, in order to highlight the gut-lung axis involvement in CF pathophysiology and its evolution in the era of novel modulators therapies.