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Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
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Gut microbiota in early pediatric multiple sclerosis: a case-control study

Helen Tremlett1, Douglas W Fadrosh2, Ali A Faruqi2

  • 1University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

European Journal of Neurology
|May 14, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked to gut microbiome changes, with specific bacteria enriched and others depleted. These gut alterations may contribute to neuroinflammation in early-onset MS.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Gut microbial community composition alterations may influence neurological disease.
  • Understanding the gut microbiome in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare gut microbial community profiles between children with early-onset MS and healthy controls.
  • To identify specific microbial taxa and functional pathways associated with pediatric MS.

Main Methods:

  • 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and PICRUSt analysis were used to examine fecal bacterial community composition and predicted function.
  • Non-parametric tests, PERMANOVA, and negative binomial regression identified associations between subject characteristics and the microbiota.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric MS cases showed significant enrichment in Desulfovibrionaceae and depletion in Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae compared to controls.
  • Gut bacterial beta diversity was not significantly related to MS status, but immunomodulatory drug (IMD) exposure was.
  • Predicted microbial genes involved in glutathione metabolism were enriched in MS cases, irrespective of IMD exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Perturbations in gut microbiome composition are observed in recent-onset pediatric MS.
  • Predicted enrichment of metabolic pathways associated with neurodegeneration suggests a pro-inflammatory milieu in pediatric MS.
Abstract

Keywords:
16S rRNAcase−control studygut microbiomegut microbiotaimmunomodulatory drugspediatric multiple sclerosisrisk factors

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