Microbiota changes in a pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia mouse model

Hematological malignancies are the most common type of pediatric cancers, and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequently occurring hematological malignancy during childhood. A major cause of mortality in leukemia is bloodstream infection (BSI). The aim of the current study was to explore the gut microbiota in ALL and its potential functional alterations. High-throughput sequencing was used to characterize the bacterial and fungal microbiota in feces and their predicted functional characteristics in a xenotransplant pediatric ALL mouse model. Our work shows that gut microbiota significantly changes in leukemia, which may result in functional alterations. This study may provide potential therapeutic or preventive strategies of BSI in ALL.