Neutrophilic Asthma Is Associated with Increased Airway Bacterial Burden and Disordered Community Composition

Figure 2

Bacterial community richness and diversity in sputum samples from subjects with NA and non-NA. Community richness was evaluated by Ace estimator and Chao estimator, and community diversity was evaluated by Shannon index and Simpson index. Comparison of community richness between groups was made by using t-test, while comparison of community diversity between groups was made by using Mann–Whitney U test (a). Correlation coefficients between these indices and neutrophil percentage were calculated by Spearman’s correlation (b). Data are presented as mean and SD or median and the interquartile range, respectively. The dots represent all of the values. NA: neutrophilic asthma.

(a)

(b)