Functional enrichment of immune targeted gut microbiota in post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Abstract
Post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (PI-ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition characterized primarily by profound fatigue and cognitive impairment, often accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbances.
Increased intestinal permeability has been proposed as a contributing mechanism, yet the role of host–microbe interaction remains poorly defined. Here, we examined intestinal microbial interactions with systemic immunoglobulin G (IgG) to assess potential microbial translocation across the intestinal barrier.
Paired stool and serum samples were collected from individuals with PI-ME/CFS ( n = 16) and healthy volunteers (HV, n = 19). Microbes were fractionated into IgG-positive and IgG-negative subsets and analyzed by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. IgG scores were derived from log-transformed read counts in positive versus negative fractions. Predicted microbial functions were inferred using PICRUSt2. Diversity and composition of the pre-sort microbiota was most-similar to IgG-Positive samples in HV and PI-ME/CFS.
Nine taxa in the HVs and 11 in PI-ME/CFS exhibited elevated IgG scores ( P < .05), primarily comprised from members of the Lachnospiraceae , Eggerthellaceae , and Ruminococcaceae families. Exploration of predicted functions found that IgG scores of several pathways and genes were enriched specifically in PI-ME/CFS, including several related to prokaryotic stress and defense mechanisms. Limited evidence of microbial translocation was observed in either HV or PI-ME/CFS; however, IgG-targeted microbes in PI-ME/CFS showed distinct predicted functional enrichment, particularly in stress and defense pathways.
These findings suggest an altered host–microbe interaction that could contribute to intestinal barrier dysfunction in individuals with PI-ME/CFS.
Web | DOI | PDF | Scientific Reports | Open Access
McCauley, Kathryn E.; Vizioli, Carlotta; Ahmed, Ayaan; Mistry, Shreni; Burns, Andrew S.; Quiñones, Mariam; Nath, Avindra; Walitt, Brian; Barb, Jennifer J.
Abstract
Post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (PI-ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition characterized primarily by profound fatigue and cognitive impairment, often accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbances.
Increased intestinal permeability has been proposed as a contributing mechanism, yet the role of host–microbe interaction remains poorly defined. Here, we examined intestinal microbial interactions with systemic immunoglobulin G (IgG) to assess potential microbial translocation across the intestinal barrier.
Paired stool and serum samples were collected from individuals with PI-ME/CFS ( n = 16) and healthy volunteers (HV, n = 19). Microbes were fractionated into IgG-positive and IgG-negative subsets and analyzed by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. IgG scores were derived from log-transformed read counts in positive versus negative fractions. Predicted microbial functions were inferred using PICRUSt2. Diversity and composition of the pre-sort microbiota was most-similar to IgG-Positive samples in HV and PI-ME/CFS.
Nine taxa in the HVs and 11 in PI-ME/CFS exhibited elevated IgG scores ( P < .05), primarily comprised from members of the Lachnospiraceae , Eggerthellaceae , and Ruminococcaceae families. Exploration of predicted functions found that IgG scores of several pathways and genes were enriched specifically in PI-ME/CFS, including several related to prokaryotic stress and defense mechanisms. Limited evidence of microbial translocation was observed in either HV or PI-ME/CFS; however, IgG-targeted microbes in PI-ME/CFS showed distinct predicted functional enrichment, particularly in stress and defense pathways.
These findings suggest an altered host–microbe interaction that could contribute to intestinal barrier dysfunction in individuals with PI-ME/CFS.
Web | DOI | PDF | Scientific Reports | Open Access
