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Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
Changes in the gut microbiome can predict and decrease Epstein-Barr virus infection risk in children after liver
Xu Wang1, Liying Sun2, Peng Li1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
Insights
Changes in gut bacteria may predict Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection risk in children post-liver transplant. Analyzing the gut microbiome could help reduce EBV-related complications by informing immunosuppressant dosage adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Virology
- Pediatric transplantation
Background:
- Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection affects 60% of children within a year of liver transplantation, often due to immunosuppressant use.
- Identifying predictive markers for EBV infection is crucial for managing associated diseases and potentially adjusting immunosuppressant therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between gut microbiome composition and EBV infection status in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
- To identify potential microbial biomarkers for predicting EBV infection risk.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze and compare the gut microbiome of EBV-infected and EBV-uninfected children post-liver transplantation.
- Correlation analysis was performed between gut microbiome composition and immune cell markers (CD4 percentage).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in gut microbiome composition were observed between EBV-infected and EBV-uninfected groups.
- Increased levels of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were noted in the EBV-infected group, whereas Clostridium was more abundant in the EBV-uninfected group.
- A positive correlation was found between CD4 T cell percentage and Clostridium sp. CAG: 127 abundance in EBV-uninfected children.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiome alterations can serve as predictive indicators for EBV infection risk in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
- Modulating the gut microbiome may offer a strategy to mitigate EBV infection and its complications after liver transplantation.
Objective:
Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is observed in 60% of children during the first year after liver transplantation as usage of imm-unosuppressant. Finding predictive indicators of EBV infection is important to reduce the morbidity and mortality of EBV infection-related diseases by suggesting a dose reduction of immunosuppressant.
Methods:
We compared and analysed the gut microbiome of EBV-infected children with an asymptomatic virus-carrying status and EBV-uninfected children after liver transplantation using high-throughput sequencing.
Results:
Significant differences in gut microbiome composition in two groups were detected. In detail, Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were increased in EBV-infected group, while Clostridium was increased in EBV-uninfected group. Furthermore, CD4 percentage in T cells of blood showed a significant positive correlation with the content of Clostridium sp. CAG: 127 in EBV-uninfected group.
Conclusion:
Changes in the gut microbiome could predict and decrease the EBV infection risk of children after liver transplantation.
