Study of the gut microbiome in Egyptian patients with Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Recently, an important relationship between Parkinson's disease and the gut microbiota, through the brain-gut axis interactions, has been established. Previous studies have declared that alterations in the gut microbiota have a great impact on the pathogenesis and clinical picture of Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study aimed to identify the gut microbiome that is likely related to Parkinson's disease as well as their possible relation to clinical phenotypes. METHODS: Thirty patients with Parkinson's disease, who presented to the Parkinson's disease Neurology Clinic of Alexandria University Hospital were enrolled in our study. A cross-matching control group of 35 healthy subjects of similar age and sex were included. Stool specimens were taken from each. Quantitative SYBR Green Real-Time PCR was done for the identification and quantitation of selected bacterial phyla, genera and/or species. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in Bacteroides and a significant decrease of Firmicutes and Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes ratio and Bifidobacteria in PD patients. Although Prevotella was decreased among PD patients relative to the healthy control, the difference was not statistically significant. Comparing the PD clinical phenotypes with the control group, the Mixed phenotype had significantly higher Bacteroides, Tremors predominant had lower Firmicutes and Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes ratio, and both tremors and postural instability and gait disability (PIGD) phenotypes had lower Bifidobacteria. However, there was no statistically significant difference between these phenotypes. Furthermore, when comparing tremors and non-tremors predominant phenotypes; Lactobacilli showed a significant decrease in non-tremors predominant phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The current study showed evidence of changes in the gut microbiome of Parkinson's disease patients compared to the healthy controls. These observations may highlight the importance of the identification of microbiome and specific bacterial changes that can be targeted for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Molecular characterization of the gut microbiome in egyptian patients with remitting relapsing multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis is the most common chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, representing the main cause of non-traumatic disabling disorders in young adults. The etiology of Multiple Sclerosis is not fully appreciated, although strong evidence points to genetic and environmental factors. The role of the gut microbiome in Multiple Sclerosis pathogenesis is a rapidly emerging area of study in that field. AIM: The aim of the present study is to identify the gut microbiome that are likely related to Multiple Sclerosis as well as their possible role in the susceptibility and the course of the disease. METHODS: Thirty Egyptian patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, who presented to the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Alexandria University Hospital were enrolled in the study. These were diagnosed according to the McDonald 2017 criteria. A cross matching control group of 20 healthy subjects of similar age and sex was included. Stool specimens were taken from each for detection of gut microbiome profile by quantitative SYBR Green Real Time PCR assay. RESULTS: The present study demonstrate that RRMS patients have a distinct gut microbiome compared to healthy controls, with certain gut microbes showing decreased or increased abundance in Multiple Sclerosis patients compared to controls. Multiple Sclerosis patients have significantly higher B. fragilis than the normal control. Although the level of Prevotella, and Lactobacilli appear much less in MS patients than the control, the difference was not statistically significant. The same for C. perfringes which was higher in Multiple Sclerosis patients. CONCLUSION: The overall results of the study agree with previous studies reporting that patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Egypt exhibit microbial gut dysbiosis. However, the results of individual bacteria may differ, according to the age, treatment, level of physcial exercise and type of therapy at the time of enrollment.