WEEK 6 Cystic Fibrosis

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Presentation by ASU student Anton Sachs of the original paper “CFTR dysregulation drives active selection of the gut microbiome” Meeker et al., PLoS Pathog, 2020, 16(1):e1008251. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008251. https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1008251

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease caused by mutations to the CTFR gene. These mutations cause the body to secrete a thick and sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas, as well as causing GI issues such as malabsorption. CF drastically shortens life span. There is no known cure at this time. Observations showed a difference between fecal biota of CF and non-CF patients. The goal of this study was to determine if the microbiome was altered due to the gene mutation via mucus, or by other means such as the medications CF patients take.


What the study determined was that the gene mutation and associated conditions could alter the microbiome without assistance from other influences. The CF mutation not only causes malabsorption issues via abnormal mucus, but also creates a secondary malady in the microbiome, which may further impact GI function and nutrient absorption.


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