Gut microbiota associated with pulmonary tuberculosis and dysbiosis caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs

Background: An improved understanding of the gut microbiota could lead to better strategies for the diagnosis, therapy and prophylaxis of tuberculosis (TB). The impact of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and anti-TB treatment on the gut microbiota has rarely been studied.Methods: We characterized the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota in pulmonary TB patients as well as the effects of anti-TB drugs on the gut microbiota.Results: Pulmonary Mtb infection led to a minor decrease in the α diversity of the gut microbiota when compared to healthy controls, which mainly resulted from changes in the relative abundance of the members of genus Bacteroides.
Source: Journal of Infection - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Source Type: research