Gut Microbiota from Multiple Sclerosis patients triggers spontaneous autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice --16S data--

The commensal microbiota has emerged as a key factor influencing human health and has been associated with several diseases, including those of the central nervous system (CNS). To investigate the role of the microbiome in multiple sclerosis (MS), a complex autoimmune disorder shaped by a multitude of genetic and environmental factors, we recruited a cohort of 34 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for MS, and compared their gut microbial composition by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of stool samples. While no major differences in the microbial profiles between MS-affected twins and their healthy co-twins were detected, a significant increase in some taxa (including Akkermansia) was seen in affected untreated subjects. To search for possible functional differences, we used a transgenic mouse model, in which spontaneous anti-CNS autoimmunity is dependent on the commensal gut flora. Germ-free mice colonized with microbiota from MS-affected twins, developed the MS-like disease with a significa...