biostudies-literatureShajiei AChina Scholarship CouncilDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft2022-2031https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9673952biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)The detection of fungi in the human respiratory tract may represent contamination, colonization or a respiratory infection. To develop effective management strategies, a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the lung fungal microbiome is required. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to define the "mycobiome" of mechanically ventilated patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) using broncho-alveolar aspirate ("sputum") samples and correlate this with clinical parameters and the bacterial microbiota. To this end, the mycobiome of 33 sputum samples was analyzed by Internal Transcribed Spacer2 (ITS2) amplicon sequencing of the ribosomal operons. The results show that in the investigated sputa of mechanically ventilated patients <i>Candida</i> spp. were most freVirulenceSpecific associations between fungi and bacteria in broncho-alveolar aspirates from mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients.PMC9673952201908320432GRK 1870Harmsen HJMLiu LSeinen JDieperink WHammerschmidt SMaarten van Dijl JShajiei AfalseSpecific associations between fungi and bacteria in broncho-alveolar aspirates from mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients.The detection of fungi in the human respiratory tract may represent contamination, colonization or a respiratory infection. To develop effective management strategies, a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the lung fungal microbiome is required. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to define the "mycobiome" of mechanically ventilated patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) using broncho-alveolar aspirate ("sputum") samples and correlate this with clinical parameters and the bacterial microbiota. To this end, the mycobiome of 33 sputum samples was analyzed by Internal Transcribed Spacer2 (ITS2) amplicon sequencing of the ribosomal operons. The results show that in the investigated sputa of mechanically ventilated patients <i>Candida</i> spp. were most fre2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Dec2025-04-25T21:01:25.15Z2025-04-06T08:37:03.064ZS-EPMC96739523638437910.1080/21505594.2022.2146568