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Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
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A prospective longitudinal study on the microbiota composition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Diana Di Gioia1, Nicole Bozzi Cionci1, Loredana Baffoni1
1Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, Bologna, Italy.
BMC Medicine
|June 18, 2020
Summary
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients show altered gut microbiota composition that changes during disease progression. Probiotic supplementation did not restore microbial diversity or slow disease in this longitudinal study.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Previous animal studies suggest a link between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and gut microbiota alterations.
- This is the first prospective longitudinal study investigating gut microbiota composition in ALS patients and the effects of probiotic supplementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze gut microbiota composition in ALS patients compared to controls.
- To investigate longitudinal changes in gut microbiota during ALS progression.
- To evaluate the impact of probiotic supplementation on gut microbiota and ALS progression.
Main Methods:
- Fifty ALS patients and 50 matched controls provided stool samples for microbial analysis using PCR-DGGE and qPCR.
- Next-generation sequencing of the 16S rDNA V3-V4 region was performed on the whole microbiota.
- Patients received either probiotic treatment or placebo for six months, with follow-ups assessing ALSFRS-R, BMI, and FVC%.
Main Results:
- ALS patients exhibited distinct gut microbiota profiles compared to controls, irrespective of disability.
- Gut microbiota composition changed over time in ALS patients, marked by a decrease in observed operational taxonomic units.
- An imbalance was noted between beneficial Bacteroidetes and potentially harmful Cyanobacteria.
- Six-month probiotic treatment altered microbial composition but did not increase biodiversity towards control levels or impact ALSFRS-R scores.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota alterations represent a potential novel biomarker for ALS.
- Further research is warranted for larger clinical studies to validate microbiota changes as biomarkers and explore microbial strategies for improving gut health in ALS.
