Gut microbiota in Mexican patients with common variable immunodeficiency

Gac Med Mex. 2019;155(5):447-452. doi: 10.24875/GMM.M20000330.

Abstract

Introduction: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the main symptomatic primary immunodeficiency and is associated with complex immune disorders. Gut microbiota interacts closely with the immune system, and intestinal dysbiosis is related to multiple diseases.

Objective: To describe for the first time the composition of gut microbiota in Mexican patients with CVID.

Methods: Fecal samples from five patients with CVID were collected and massive sequencing of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was carried out using illumina technology.

Results: Bacterial relative abundance was observed at all taxonomic levels. Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia were the predominant phyla. The Clostridia class and the Clostridial order were the most common in their respective taxon; the Ruminococcaceae family predominated. A total of 166 genera were reported, with the most abundant being Faecalibacterium. Five species were identified, but only Bifidobacterium longum was present in all patients.

Conclusions: Unlike healthy subjects' gut microbiota, where Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes predominate, the microbiota of the patients with CVID considered in this study was abundant in Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. The low presence of Bacteroidetes and high abundance of Firmicutes might indicate the existence of intestinal dysbiosis in these patients.

Keywords: 16S rRNA; Common variable immunodeficiency; Dysbiosis; Firmicutes; Gut microbiota.

MeSH terms

  • Actinobacteria / isolation & purification
  • Adult
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteroidetes / isolation & purification
  • Bifidobacterium longum / isolation & purification
  • Clostridiales / isolation & purification
  • Clostridium / isolation & purification
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency / microbiology*
  • Dysbiosis / immunology
  • Dysbiosis / microbiology
  • Faecalibacterium / isolation & purification
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Firmicutes / isolation & purification
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Mexico
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Ruminococcus / isolation & purification
  • Verrucomicrobia / isolation & purification

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Supplementary concepts

  • Verrucobacter flavum