An altered fecal microbial profiling in rosacea patients compared to matched controls

Abstract

Background/purpose: Rosacea has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease and small bowel bacterial overgrowth. We aimed to investigate the fecal microbial profiling and the potential gene functions between rosacea and non-rosacea subjects.

Methods: A case-control study. Fecal microbiome and predicted genetic function inferred from high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing were analyzed between rosacea (n = 11) and age-, gender- and body mass index-matched non-rosacea subjects (n=110). The correlation between altered microbiome as well as lifestyle and diet were also investigated.

Results: A significant reduction of fecal microbial richness was found in rosacea patients. A distinct fecal microbial community structure was demonstrated in rosacea patients. The discriminating enriched genera in rosacea patients included Rhabdochlamydia, CF231, Bifidobacterium, Sarcina, Ruminococcus, belonging to the phylum of Chlamydiae, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Lentisphaerae. The discriminating reduced abundant genera included Lactobacillus, Megasphaerae, Acidaminococcus, Hemophilus, Roseburia, Clostridium, belong to the phylum of Firmicutes; and Citrobacter, belonging to the phylum of Proteobacteria. The distinct fecal microbial composition might be related to sulfur metabolism, cobalamin, and carbohydrate transport.

Conclusion: An altered fecal microbial richness and composition were observed in rosacea patients. The distinct microbial composition might be related to sulfur metabolism, cobalamin and carbohydrate transport.

Keywords: Fecal microbiome; Gut; Inflammation; Intestine; Rosacea.