Evaluation of a human gut-associated phage and gut dominant microbial phyla in the metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Background & aims: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an expanding public health problem worldwide and is reasoned one of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence suggests that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota may play an essential role in metabolic disorders. The objective of this study was to assess the differences in the two gut dominant phyla and a gut-associated phage between MetS and healthy control subjects.

Methods: The study included 60 subjects among whom 30 were MetS, and 30 were healthy control subjects. The entire studied group was subjected to clinical, laboratory assessment, and anthropometric evaluation. Stool samples were collected from both MetS and healthy control subjects. The Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and crAssphage were assessed by quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Results: The MetS group had significantly higher body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, and waist circumference were compared with healthy controls (Pv < 0.05). The relative abundance of the Firmicutes phyla and crAssphage were high in the MetS group and only crAssphage were statistically significantly high in the MetS group compared to the healthy controls (Pv < 0.05). The quantity of Bacteroidetes phyla was low in the MetS group compared to the healthy controls, though there were no significant differences between the two groups (Pv > 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that adults with MetS have a different gut microbial composition in comparison to healthy controls. This could be probably considered when creating approaches to control MetS by modifying the gut microbiota.

Keywords: Bacteroidetes; Firmicutes; Gut microbiota; Metabolic syndrome; crAssphage.