A case report demonstrating the utility of next generation sequencing in analyzing serial samples from the lung following an infection with influenza A (H7N9) virus

Bacterial pneumonia is a well-recognized sequela of patient suffering from influenza, and a key factor, with cytokine dysregulation, that contribute to severe disease and mortality. To obtain a comprehensive assessment of lung microbial community dynamics in a fatal influenza H7N9 case during the whole clinical course, we undertook a longitudinal study. Serial bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected from a H7N9 patient after illness onset, and the microbiome was characterized by using next-generation sequencing and microbiological approaches. Furthermore, the kinetics of circulating cytokine storms related to viral and secondary bacterial infection were analyzed. Within complex and dynamic communities, the lung microbiome with H7N9 infection were dominated by gram-negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii after the viral invasion and during the whole clinical course. Sputum and blood culture confirmed the secondary bacterial infection with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii 9 days later. The dynamics of the bacterial infection with carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii correlated with antibiotic therapy. Our observations also indicated that sustained high levels of host inflammatory factors, consisting of a set of distinct cytokines associated with disease stage, may contribute to disease progression and death. This study demonstrates an initial attempt to explore the dynamic microbiome involved inH7N9 infection and its response to antimicrobial therapy, as well as host cytokine response to infection by using next-generation sequencing. These type of investigations with longitudinal follow-up to understand dynamics of microbial community and cytokines involved in lung infection may provide opportunities for development and optimization of targeted antimicrobial therapy and even new therapeutic strategies.