Alterations in the fecal microbiota of patients with spinal cord injury

PLOS ONE, 2020 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236470 · Published: August 4, 2020

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can disrupt the nervous system's control over the gut, potentially leading to imbalances in the intestinal flora. This study investigates how SCI affects the fecal microbiome by comparing patients with SCI to healthy individuals. The study found significant differences in the fecal microbiota between SCI patients and healthy controls. While the overall richness and diversity were similar, the specific types and quantities of bacteria differed considerably. These findings suggest that SCI is associated with microbiome dysbiosis, meaning an imbalance in the gut's microbial community. This imbalance could contribute to the gastrointestinal issues commonly experienced by SCI patients.

Study Duration

8 to 14 months

Participants

23 patients with SCI and 23 healthy controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The structure and quantity of fecal microbiota differed significantly between patients with SCI and healthy controls.
2
Specific operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were enriched in either SCI or healthy samples, with 18 OTUs more abundant in healthy controls and 27 OTUs more abundant in the SCI group.
3
A predictive model identified 20 genera that could predict the presence of SCI with high accuracy (AUC = 0.938).

Research Summary

This study investigated the fecal microbiome composition in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) compared to healthy controls, revealing significant differences in the structure and quantity of fecal microbiota. The study identified specific bacterial genera that were either more or less abundant in SCI patients, suggesting a dysbiosis of the gut microbiome associated with SCI. A predictive model based on the abundance of certain genera was able to accurately predict the presence of SCI, highlighting the potential for using gut microbiome composition as a diagnostic marker.

Practical Implications

Diagnostic Potential

The study's predictive model suggests that gut microbiome composition could be used as a diagnostic marker for SCI.

Therapeutic Targets

Understanding the specific changes in gut microbiota associated with SCI may lead to the development of targeted therapies, such as probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation, to improve gastrointestinal health and overall outcomes for SCI patients.

Personalized Interventions

Further research could identify specific microbial signatures associated with different types or severities of SCI, enabling personalized interventions to address individual patient needs.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size
2
16S rRNA gene sequencing cannot directly identify functional changes in microbiota.
3
Individual differences in diet may have biased our results.

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