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Microbial gut evaluation in an angolan paediatric population with sickle cell disease
Mariana Delgadinho1, Catarina Ginete1, Brígida Santos2,3
1H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Insights
Sickle cell disease (SCD) in Angolan children alters the gut microbiome, with SCA patients showing higher Actinobacteria and Clostridium cluster XI. This highlights differences from healthy siblings, impacting potential therapies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent genetic disorder globally, causing significant under-5 mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The gut microbiome plays a role in SCD's inflammation and vaso-occlusive crises.
- Previous studies indicate gut dysbiosis, including enterocyte injury and increased permeability, in SCD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the gut microbiome of Angolan children with SCD using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- To compare the gut microbiota composition between children with SCD and their healthy siblings.
Main Methods:
- Collected 72 stool samples from children aged 3-14 years.
- Sequenced the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to analyze microbiota composition.
- Compared microbial relative abundance at phylum and genus levels between SCD patients and controls.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in gut microbiota were observed between children with SCD and healthy siblings.
- Children with SCD exhibited a higher abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria.
- The genus Clostridium cluster XI was more prevalent in SCA children, while healthy siblings showed higher levels of Blautia, Aestuariispira, Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Polaribacter, and Anaerorhabdus.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first microbiota analysis in Angolan pediatric SCD patients.
- Distinct microbial differences exist between SCD patients and healthy controls in this population.
- Further research is needed to understand gut modulation therapies for SCD.
Abstract:
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic conditions worldwide. It can contribute up to 90% of under-5 mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Clinical manifestations are very heterogeneous, and the intestinal microbiome appears to be crucial in the modulation of inflammation, cell adhesion and induction of aged neutrophils, the main interveners of recurrent vaso-occlusive crisis. Enterocyte injury, increased permeability, altered microbial composition and bacterial overgrowth have all been documented as microbial and pathophysiologic changes in the gut microbiome of SCD patients in recent studies. Our aim was to sequence the bacterial 16S rRNA gene in order to characterize the gut microbiome of Angolan children with SCA and healthy siblings as a control. A total of 72 stool samples were obtained from children between 3 and 14 years old. Our data showed that the two groups exhibit some notable differences in microbiota relative abundance at different classification levels. Children with SCA have a higher number of the phylum Actinobacteria. As for the genus level, Clostridium cluster XI bacteria was more prevalent in the SCA children, whereas the siblings had a higher abundance of Blautia, Aestuariispira, Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Polaribacter and Anaerorhabdus. In this study, we have presented the first microbiota analysis in an Angolan paediatric population with SCD and provided a detailed view of the microbial differences between patients and healthy controls. There is still much to learn before fully relying on the therapeutic approaches for gut modulation, which is why more research in this field is crucial to making this a reality.
