Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group
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2016 OMIG Abstract 20

Longitudinal Molecular Analysis of Microbial and Viral DNA in Blepharitis
Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD¹, Lakshmi Akileswaran, PhD¹, Cecilia J. Lee, MD¹, David Stroman, PhD^2
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington Medical School; ²NovaBay, Inc.

Blepharitis is a common ocular condition which may be associated with altered microbial populations on the lid margin.  To date, modern molecular techniques for characterization of the microbiome have not been applied to the analysis of blepharitis.

Methods: Five subjects had repeated swabs of their upper eyelids of each eye over the course of 18 days.  Three subjects were treated with Avenova® (NovaBay) while two were treated with vehicle.  Following DNA extraction of swabs, quantitation of bacterial DNA, biome representational sequencing, and deep DNA sequencing were performed.

Results: Quantation of 16S DNA demonstrated ~1-50 bacterial genomes per human actin, with no significant effect of treatment.  Deep sequencing revealed Corynebacteria, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus as major genera present.  Interestingly each of the five subjects had a unique pattern of present surface microbes that was relatively consistent between eyes and across visits, but distinct from the pattern present in other individuals.  Torque teno virus was found in 3/5 subjects.

Conclusions:
1. Bacterial loads in blepharitis appear similar to those of individuals without disease.
2. Individuals have unique combination of lid flora in blepharitis.
3. The lid flora in blepharitis are relatively stable across multiple samplings within a 3 week period.
4. Torque teno virus is found frequently on the lid surface.

S: NovaBay, Inc; National Eye Institute R01EY022038; Research to Prevent Blindness

2016 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous | Next >