Causal associations between human gut microbiota and osteomyelitis: a Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Genetics
• Infectious diseases

Background:

• Gut microbiota's role in osteomyelitis is increasingly recognized but poorly understood.
• Specific bacterial species and their mechanisms in osteomyelitis pathogenesis require clarification.
• Lack of evidence hinders the development of gut microbiota-targeted osteomyelitis treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and osteomyelitis risk.
• To identify specific bacterial taxa associated with osteomyelitis using a large-scale genetic analysis.
• To provide a foundation for novel therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the MiBioGen consortium's largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis (13,400 participants).
• Employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework with UK Biobank data (4,836 cases, 486,484 controls).
• Applied inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and Cochran's Q statistic for robust analysis and heterogeneity assessment.

Main Results:

• Positive associations with osteomyelitis risk were found for bacterial classes Bacilli and Bacteroidia, and order Bacteroidales.
• Genera Butyricimonas, Coprococcus3, and Tyzzerella3 showed increased abundance linked to higher osteomyelitis risk.
• The genus Lachnospira was negatively associated with osteomyelitis risk.

Conclusions:

• Specific gut bacteria, including Bacilli, Bacteroidia, Bacteroidales, Butyricimonas, Coprococcus3, and Tyzzerella3, are linked to increased osteomyelitis risk.
• The genus Lachnospira may confer a protective effect against osteomyelitis.
• Further research is essential to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which these gut microbes influence osteomyelitis development and progression.