Gut microbiome and pediatric multiple sclerosis

Half of our cells and only 1 in 100 of our genes are human; the rest comprise microbes, termed the human microbiota. Over 90% of these microbes live in the large intestine. Aside from aiding food digestion, these diverse microbes can also synthesize essential vitamins or amino acids, educate and modulate the immune system response, and influence susceptibility or resistance to infections. Their potential to influence neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) is intriguing. The overarching goal of this Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) presentation was to provide a high-level insight into gut microbiota's potential role in pediatric MS. Two specific questions were also addressed based on published work: (1) Does the gut microbiota differ between children with and without MS? and (2) Is the gut microbiota associated with future relapse risk?