Functional assessment of active and secretory IgA targeted and non-targeted bacterial groups in severe acute malnutrition (SAM)

This cross-sectional case-control study investigates the critical role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) among children, particularly in low- and middle-income settings like India. By comparing the gut microbiome profiles of children with SAM against healthy controls, it aims to uncover distinct microbial signatures and their associations with dietary patterns, growth indicators, and inflammatory markers. The core idea centers on moving beyond traditional socioeconomic and dietary factors to highlight how microbiota disruptions impair nutrient absorption, immune function, and intestinal barrier integrity, potentially driving SAM-related mortality and morbidity.Participants were recruited from community settings such as Anganwadi centers, with comprehensive data collection on anthropometric measures, sociodemographic details, and dietary profiles. Fecal samples were analyzed for key inflammatory markers including MPO, calprotectin, neopterin, and secretory IgA alongside 16S rRNA V3 to V4 sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. Bioinformatic processing involved QIIME2, PICRUSt2, and R packages to assess microbial diversity, composition, and predicted metagenomic functions.The study's purpose is to delineate pro-inflammatory, pathogenic genera enriched in SAM (linked to barrier breaches, infections, and negative growth correlations) versus protective taxa scarce in these children (associated with better gut integrity, anti-inflammatory effects, and positive growth ties). It further explores functional disruptions like altered bile acid metabolism, biofilm formation, and infectious disease pathways, which may perpetuate chronic inflammation and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction. Ultimately, these findings seek to identify microbial biomarkers and therapeutic targets, aligning with global evidence from regions like Bangladesh and Indonesia to inform targeted interventions for SAM.