Household plumbing biofilms can harbor and transmit bacterial pathogens. Pulmonary infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can occur from this transmission route. NTM infections are increasing around the world and in New Jersey (NJ), where this field study was performed. Plumbing biofilm samples were collected from sinks and showerheads in homes using private wells (n = 19) and in homes of NTM patients (n = 5). DNA extracts were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to quantify mycobacterial marker genes and by amplicon sequencing to describe the microbiomes where NTM were observed. Water samples were analyzed for basic water quality parameters and fecal indicator organisms. Participants completed surveys about their wells and home water systems to enable testing of potential relationships between these environmental factors and the microbial communities. NTM were observed in more than half of private well biofilm samples using qPCR and in all of the selected samples analyzed by amplicon sequencing (n = 29/70), even when below detection by qPCR. Samples from patient homes, most of whom used public water supply, had similar abundances of NTM as samples from private wells. Physiography and within-home location (e.g., kitchen sink) explained some variation in concentrations of mycobacteria genes. One microbial family with no known human pathogens, Rikenellaceae, was identified as a potential antagonist to mycobacteria using linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). This study illuminates the widespread nature of NTM in private well water systems without disinfection selection pressures, and works toward understanding ecological interactions that may aid or slow the growth of NTM toward ecological engineering of healthy plumbing microbiomes.

中文翻译：

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私人井和住宅管道生物膜微生物组中的非结核分枝杆菌

家庭管道生物膜可以藏匿和传播细菌病原体。这种传播途径可能导致非结核分枝杆菌 (NTM) 的肺部感染。NTM 感染在世界各地和新泽西州 (NJ) 都在增加，该实地研究就是在那里进行的。水暖生物膜样品从水槽和淋浴喷头收集在使用私有井舍（Ñ  = 19）和在NTM患者的舍（Ñ = 5）。通过定量聚合酶链反应 (qPCR) 分析 DNA 提取物以量化分枝杆菌标记基因，并通过扩增子测序来描述观察到 NTM 的微生物组。分析水样的基本水质参数和粪便指示生物。参与者完成了关于他们的水井和家庭供水系统的调查，以测试这些环境因素与微生物群落之间的潜在关系。使用 qPCR 在超过一半的私人井生物膜样本中以及在通过扩增子测序分析的所有选定样本中都观察到了 NTM（n = 29/70)，即使低于 qPCR 检测。来自患者家庭的样本（其中大多数使用公共供水）与来自私人水井的样本具有相似的 NTM 丰度。生理学和家庭内部位置（例如，厨房水槽）解释了分枝杆菌基因浓度的一些变化。使用线性判别分析效应大小 (LEfSe) 将一个没有已知人类病原体的微生物家族Rikenellaceae确定为分枝杆菌的潜在拮抗剂。这项研究阐明了 NTM 在没有消毒选择压力的私人井水系统中的普遍性质，并致力于了解可能有助于或减缓 NTM 向健康管道微生物群落生态工程发展的生态相互作用。