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Updated: May 9, 2026
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
Sexual dimorphism in the colonic microbiome and host's transcriptomics profiles of a murine model of multiple
William J Doyle1, Sean M Schumacher1, Megan R Gates1
1Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA.
Background:
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, with a higher prevalence among female patients. We and others have documented significant changes in microbial taxa in response to the induction of active experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an MS model.
Objective:
To evaluate sex as a biological variable in both the host and colonic microenvironment during active EAE.
Methods:
We conducted colonic transcriptomics and microbiota analysis of colonic fecal content in male and female EAE C57BL/6 J mice and controls at the time of disease induction, pre-onset, and peak disease.
Results:
Analysis showed significant sex-specific differences in colonic gene expression during EAE. As disease severity increased, the profiles of colon microbiome and transcriptomics became less distinct.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest early changes in colonic inflammatory pathways, with notable differences between males and females associated with microbiota alterations triggered by disease induction.
