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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: Studying Host-Microbe Interactions in Wound Biofilm Formation
Published on: June 16, 2023
Microbial community succession in the intestine of mice with deep partial-thickness burns
Li-Jian Chen1, Yi Liu1, Jing-Wen Yang1
1Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Introduction:
Burn injury has been shown to lead to changes in the composition of the gut microbiome and cause other damage in patients. However, little is known about how the gut microbial community evolves in individuals who have recovered from burn injury.
Methods:
In this study, we established a model of deep partial-thickness burn in mice and collected fecal samples at eight time points (pre-burn, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-burn) for 16S rRNA amplification and high-throughput sequencing.
Results:
The results of the sequencing were analyzed using measures of alpha diversity, and beta diversity and taxonomy. We observed that the richness of the gut microbiome declined from day 7 post-burn and that the principal component and microbial community structure varied over time. On day 28 after the burn, the microbiome composition largely returned to the pre-burn level, although day 5 was a turning point for change. Some probiotics, such as the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, decreased in composition after the burn but were restored in the later recovery period. In contrast, Proteobacteria showed an opposite trend, which is known to include potential pathogenic bacteria.
Conclusion:
These findings demonstrate gut microbial dysbiosis after burn injury and provide new insights into the burn-related dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and strategies for improving the treatment of burn injury from the perspective of the microbiota.
Insights
Burn injury alters gut microbiome composition, with richness declining by day 7. The microbiome largely recovers by day 28, offering insights into burn recovery and microbial treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Burn injuries significantly impact patient health, including alterations to the gut microbiome.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the evolution of the gut microbial community during recovery from burn injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in gut microbiome composition following a deep partial-thickness burn injury in a mouse model.
- To identify key microbial shifts and recovery patterns during the post-burn period.
Main Methods:
- A deep partial-thickness burn model was established in mice.
- Fecal samples were collected at eight time points (pre-burn to 28 days post-burn).
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analyses (alpha/beta diversity, taxonomy) were performed.
Main Results:
- Gut microbiome richness decreased from day 7 post-burn, with significant shifts in community structure.
- Day 5 marked a turning point in microbial community dynamics.
- While some beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group) decreased, potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria) increased, with partial restoration by day 28.
Conclusions:
- Burn injury induces significant gut microbial dysbiosis.
- Understanding these microbial dynamics offers potential for novel therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiome in burn injury recovery.
