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. Anti-TB therapy caused a rapid, significant alteration in the community structure. The relative abundance of members of genus Clostridiales of the phylum Firmicutes significantly decreased during anti-TB treatment, while many members of genus Bacteroides, including Bacteroides OTU230 and Bacteroides fragilis, were among the taxa that increased. OTU8 and OTU2972 assigned to family Erysipelotrichaceae of the phylum Firmicutes showed a dramatic increase 1 week after the start of therapy, while the other members of this family decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary TB and anti-TB treatment caused a distinct dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Our study contributes valuable information implying potential links between the gut microbiota and TB.