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Examining diabetic heel ulcers through an ecological lens: microbial community dynamics associated with healing and infection

Sloan, Tim J.; Turton, James C.; Tyson, Jess; Musgrove, Alison; Fleming, Vicki M.; Lister, Michelle M.; Loose, Matthew W.; Sockett, R. Elizabeth; Diggle, Mathew; Game, Frances L.; Jeffcoate, William

Authors

Tim J. Sloan

James C. Turton

Jess Tyson

Alison Musgrove

Vicki M. Fleming

Michelle M. Lister

MATTHEW LOOSE matt.loose@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Developmental and Computational Biology

Mathew Diggle

Frances L. Game

William Jeffcoate



Abstract

Purpose: While some micro-organisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus, are clearly implicated in causing tissue damage in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), our knowledge of the contribution of the entire microbiome to clinical outcomes is limited. We profiled the microbiome of a longitudinal sample series of 28 people with diabetes and DFUs of the heel in an attempt to better characterize the relationship between healing, infection and the microbiome.
Methodology: In total, 237 samples were analysed from 28 DFUs, collected at fortnightly intervals for 6 months or until healing. Microbiome profiles were generated by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, supplemented by targeted nanopore sequencing.
Result/Key findings: DFUs which failed to heal during the study period (20/28, 71.4 %) were more likely to be persistently colonized with a heterogeneous community of micro-organisms including anaerobes and Enterobacteriaceae (log-likelihood ratio 9.56, P=0.008). During clinically apparent infection, a reduction in the diversity of micro-organisms in a DFU was often observed due to expansion of one or two taxa, with recovery in diversity at resolution. Modelling of the predicted species interactions in a single DFU with high diversity indicated that networks of metabolic interactions may exist that contribute to the formation of stable communities.
Conclusion: Longitudinal profiling is an essential tool for improving our understanding of the microbiology of chronic wounds, as community dynamics associated with clinical events can only be identified by examining changes over multiple time points. The development of complex communities, particularly involving Enterobacteriaceae and strict anaerobes, may be contributing to poor outcomes in DFUs and requires further investigation.

Citation

Sloan, T. J., Turton, J. C., Tyson, J., Musgrove, A., Fleming, V. M., Lister, M. M., …Jeffcoate, W. (2019). Examining diabetic heel ulcers through an ecological lens: microbial community dynamics associated with healing and infection. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 68(2), 230-240. https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000907

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 27, 2018
Online Publication Date Jan 9, 2019
Publication Date 2019-02
Deposit Date Dec 21, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Medical Microbiology
Print ISSN 0022-2615
Electronic ISSN 1473-5644
Publisher Microbiology Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 68
Issue 2
Pages 230-240
DOI https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000907
Keywords diabetic foot ulcers; chronic wounds; microbiome; wound healing; polymicrobial interactions
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1437347
Publisher URL https://jmm.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000907

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