Figure 1

Canonical correspondence analysis of (A) total cohort showing that sputum samples that were culture positive ( P = 0.016); had culturable P. aeruginosa ( P = 0.002) and culturable H. influenzae ( P = 0.002) were associated with distinct bacterial community assemblies, (B) Frequent exacerbators also showing that samples that were culture positive ( P = 0.05); had culturable P. aeruginosa ( P = 0.002) and culturable H. influenzae ( P = 0.002) were associated with distinct bacterial community assemblies. Discrete variables, indicated by ▲, are; Culture positive sputum; H.i, H. influenzae detected by culture and P.a, P. aeruginosa detected by culture. Other variables analysed; the presence of an exacerbation at time of sampling; 12 month history of persistent; intermittent or absence of culturable P. aeruginosa, current azithromycin treatment; current nebulised colistin treatment; gender, FEV1% predicted; frequent exacerbation and age. None were found to significantly affect the community structure and for clarity are not shown. Percentage values show variance within data explained by that axis.