BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- U.S.-developed molecular technology used to examine life forms in undersea hydrothermal vents has identified unexpected bacteria in cystic fibrosis patients.

   The technology developed by University of Colorado-Boulder Professor Norman Pace identified the bacteria strains in the lung fluid of Denver children suffering from cystic fibrosis.

   Instead of standard culturing techniques, researchers used nucleic acid gene sequencing to rapidly detect, identify and classify more than 60 species of bacteria in fluid samples from the 28 cystic fibrosis patients. Thirteen samples contained bacteria that are not routinely assessed by culturing.

   Pace said the presence of the unexpected bacteria might help explain cases of unidentified lung inflammation and the consequent failure of patients -- primarily children -- to respond to standard treatments.

   "The results show molecular sequencing is a more effective, faster and far less expensive way to assess airway bacteria than routine clinical cultures and better identifies targets for further clinical evaluation," said Pace.
The research appears in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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