Differential metabolite production underlies disruption of the cystic fibrosis airway microbiota by pathogens.

Pathogen dominance in the cystic fibrosis airway microbiota is linked to loss of lung function, while higher diversity and more bacterial associations correlate with better function.

• Why it matters: CF airways support chronic pathogens that worsen respiratory outcomes, but the mechanisms and interaction patterns shaping microbiota disruption remain unclear.
• What they did: The authors reanalyzed 5,260 CF 16S rRNA gene microbiota datasets, then cultured 1,597 isolates from 96 people with CF and ran 12,542 coculture assays with eight pathogens/oropharyngeal bacteria.
• The result: They found 23% of coculture interactions caused inhibition, with Pseudomonas most inhibitory, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates showing metabolome/bioactivity differences correlated with mutation acquisition.

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