Methods for Categorizing and Treating Subjects at Risk for Pulmonary Exacerbation and Disease Progression

A method of predicting a subject's response to antibiotic treatment in a subject having cystic fibrosis (CF), the method comprising

• a. obtaining a whole blood sample from the subject;
• b. detecting the mRNA expression level of each of the following genes:
• TLR2, ADAM9, PLXND1, CD163, CD36, CD64, CSPG2, IL32, HPSE, and HCA112;
• c. predicting the subject's treatment response by comparing the combined mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) to a combined mRNA expression level of the same genes from a control having CF and known to be receptive to antibiotic treatment, wherein the subject's combined mRNA expression level correlates to the control's level known to be receptive to an antibiotic treatment;
• and
• d. treating the subject with an antibiotic when the mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) predicts the subject is responsive to treatment with an antibiotic.

A method of determining the inflammatory level in a subject having cystic fibrosis and treating the subject, the method comprising

• a. obtaining a whole blood sample from the subject;
• b. detecting the mRNA expression level of each of the following genes:
• TLR2, ADAM9, PLXND1, CD163, CD36, CD64, CSPG2, IL32, HPSE, and HCA112;
• c. determining the inflammatory level in the subject by comparing the subject's combined mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) to a combined mRNA expression level of the same genes from a control having CF, wherein the subject's combined mRNA expression level correlates to the control's combined mRNA expression level, wherein the control's combined mRNA expression level further correlates to an inflammatory level that is known to be receptive to an antibiotic treatment;
• and
• d. treating the subject with an antibiotic when the mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) indicates the subject has an inflammatory level receptive to treatment with an antibiotic.

A method of determining a subject's response to antibiotic treatment in a subject having CF, the method comprising

• a. obtaining a whole blood sample from the subject;
• b. detecting the mRNA expression level of each of the following genes:
• TLR2, ADAMS, PLXND1, CD163, CD36, CD64, CSPG2, IL32, HPSE, and HCA112;
• c. determining the subject's treatment response by comparing the combined mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) to a combined mRNA expression level of the same genes from a control having CF and known to be receptive to antibiotic treatment, wherein the subject's combined mRNA expression level correlates to the control's level known to be receptive to an antibiotic treatment;
• and
• d. treating the subject with an antibiotic when the mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) indicates the subject is responsive to treatment with an antibiotic

A method of treating of subject having CF with an antibiotic, the method comprising

• a. obtaining a whole blood sample from the subject;
• b. detecting the mRNA expression level of each of the following genes:
• TLR2, ADAMS, PLXND1, CD163, CD36, CD64, CSPG2, IL32, HPSE, and HCA112;
• c. comparing the combined mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) to a combined mRNA expression level of the same genes from a control having CF and known to be receptive to antibiotic treatment, wherein the subject's combined mRNA expression level correlates to the control's level known to be receptive to an antibiotic treatment;
• and
• d. treating the subject with an antibiotic when the mRNA expression level of the genes from step (b) indicates the subject is responsive to treatment with an antibiotic.