Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections

BackgroundMetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been widely reported to provide crucial information for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate mNGS in pathogens diagnosis of lung infections.MethodsA total of 188 patients who were suspected...

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Main Authors: Song Chen, Tanglin Ouyang, Kaiyang Wang, Xuan Hou, Rong Zhang, Meiyong Li, Haibin Zhang, Qinghua He, Xiuzhen Li, Zezhang Liu, Xiaozhong Wang, Bo Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1513603/full
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author Song Chen
Song Chen
Tanglin Ouyang
Tanglin Ouyang
Kaiyang Wang
Xuan Hou
Xuan Hou
Rong Zhang
Rong Zhang
Meiyong Li
Haibin Zhang
Qinghua He
Xiuzhen Li
Zezhang Liu
Zezhang Liu
Xiaozhong Wang
Bo Huang
author_facet Song Chen
Song Chen
Tanglin Ouyang
Tanglin Ouyang
Kaiyang Wang
Xuan Hou
Xuan Hou
Rong Zhang
Rong Zhang
Meiyong Li
Haibin Zhang
Qinghua He
Xiuzhen Li
Zezhang Liu
Zezhang Liu
Xiaozhong Wang
Bo Huang
author_sort Song Chen
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been widely reported to provide crucial information for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate mNGS in pathogens diagnosis of lung infections.MethodsA total of 188 patients who were suspected of pulmonary infection and received medical treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from August 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled in this study. Conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) and mNGS were employed for pathogens diagnosis.ResultsStatistical results indicated that mNGS were significantly better than CMTs in sensitivity, negative predictive value, and negative likelihood ratio. Remarkably, the positive detection rate of mNGS was significantly higher than that of CMTs (86.17% vs 67.55%, P < 0.01). Through mNGS, we identified 96 pathogens, comprising 59 bacteria, 18 fungi, 15 viruses, and 4 special pathogens. In contrast, CMTs detected 28 species, including 25 bacteria and 3 fungi. The effectiveness rate of antibiotic treatment decisions based on mNGS results was 40.60%. Out of 54 cases with positive treatment impacts, mNGS results contributed to the treatment and improved prognosis of 16 infections caused by atypical pathogens.ConclusionOur results proved the essential role of mNGS in lung infection diagnosis, enabling early detection and the prompt development of targeted anti-infection therapies. We recommended that the clinical application of mNGS can enhance treatment effectiveness and improve patient prognosis.
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spelling doaj-art-5cc82efb6e8948b39a9d061c13bdd14e2025-08-20T02:55:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-05-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15136031513603Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infectionsSong Chen0Song Chen1Tanglin Ouyang2Tanglin Ouyang3Kaiyang Wang4Xuan Hou5Xuan Hou6Rong Zhang7Rong Zhang8Meiyong Li9Haibin Zhang10Qinghua He11Xiuzhen Li12Zezhang Liu13Zezhang Liu14Xiaozhong Wang15Bo Huang16Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaDepartment of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaBGI Genomics, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, ChinaClinical Laboratory, BGI Genomics, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaBackgroundMetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been widely reported to provide crucial information for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate mNGS in pathogens diagnosis of lung infections.MethodsA total of 188 patients who were suspected of pulmonary infection and received medical treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from August 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled in this study. Conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) and mNGS were employed for pathogens diagnosis.ResultsStatistical results indicated that mNGS were significantly better than CMTs in sensitivity, negative predictive value, and negative likelihood ratio. Remarkably, the positive detection rate of mNGS was significantly higher than that of CMTs (86.17% vs 67.55%, P < 0.01). Through mNGS, we identified 96 pathogens, comprising 59 bacteria, 18 fungi, 15 viruses, and 4 special pathogens. In contrast, CMTs detected 28 species, including 25 bacteria and 3 fungi. The effectiveness rate of antibiotic treatment decisions based on mNGS results was 40.60%. Out of 54 cases with positive treatment impacts, mNGS results contributed to the treatment and improved prognosis of 16 infections caused by atypical pathogens.ConclusionOur results proved the essential role of mNGS in lung infection diagnosis, enabling early detection and the prompt development of targeted anti-infection therapies. We recommended that the clinical application of mNGS can enhance treatment effectiveness and improve patient prognosis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1513603/fullmetagenomic next-generation sequencinglung infectionbronchoalveolar lavage fluidconventional microbiological testpathogens diagnosisantibiotic treatment adjustment
spellingShingle Song Chen
Song Chen
Tanglin Ouyang
Tanglin Ouyang
Kaiyang Wang
Xuan Hou
Xuan Hou
Rong Zhang
Rong Zhang
Meiyong Li
Haibin Zhang
Qinghua He
Xiuzhen Li
Zezhang Liu
Zezhang Liu
Xiaozhong Wang
Bo Huang
Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
metagenomic next-generation sequencing
lung infection
bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
conventional microbiological test
pathogens diagnosis
antibiotic treatment adjustment
title Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections
title_full Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections
title_fullStr Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections
title_full_unstemmed Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections
title_short Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections
title_sort application of metagenomic next generation sequencing in pathogen detection of lung infections
topic metagenomic next-generation sequencing
lung infection
bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
conventional microbiological test
pathogens diagnosis
antibiotic treatment adjustment
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1513603/full
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