Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutions

Objective: To explore the structural and functional characteristics of the fecal-associated microbiome (FAM) in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) qi-deficiency constitution (QDC) by comparing with balanced constitution (BC) and screen the related biomarkers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study...

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Main Authors: Jianhua Zhen, Pengfei Zhao, Guangrui Huang, Yini Li, Lu Zhao, Yuhang Zhang, Anlong Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-04-01
Series:Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754820300223
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author Jianhua Zhen
Pengfei Zhao
Guangrui Huang
Yini Li
Lu Zhao
Yuhang Zhang
Anlong Xu
author_facet Jianhua Zhen
Pengfei Zhao
Guangrui Huang
Yini Li
Lu Zhao
Yuhang Zhang
Anlong Xu
author_sort Jianhua Zhen
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To explore the structural and functional characteristics of the fecal-associated microbiome (FAM) in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) qi-deficiency constitution (QDC) by comparing with balanced constitution (BC) and screen the related biomarkers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the TCM constitutions of subjects were determined based on published the Classification and Determination of constitution in TCM and further confirmed by a TCM clinician. Clinical characteristics were recorded, and fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing using the Illumina Miseq platform. The FAM structure was described using alpha-diversity indexes, beta-diversity indexes, and the relative abundances of the dominant taxa. Differences in the FAM distribution and function were analyzed with a Wilcoxon rank-sum test, MetagenomeSeq, and LEfSe analysis, after which a receiver operating characteristic curve based on the specific operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was constructed to calculate the area under the curve. Results: Our study population was composed of 22 BCs and 9 QDCs. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the distribution of clinical characteristics or alpha-diversity indexes, except for the sweets preference and blood glucose level. In principal coordinate analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis, the bacterial communities in the BC group samples and QDC group samples clustered separately. Notably, there were 214 OTUs significantly distributed between groups in the MetagenomeSeq analysis, 200 OTUs identified by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and 6 OTUs found by the LEfSe analysis. Predicted function analysis revealed that six metabolic pathways were distinctly distributed between the two groups. The area under the curve for the receiver operating characteristic curve based on the four specific OTUs was 0.88. Conclusion: Unique FAM structural and related functional characteristics are displayed in individuals with a QDC, and four specific OTUs could be used as QDC biomarkers to assist in clinical diagnosis.
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spelling doaj.art-722aefb789c34ff1b1e631130240ea5f2023-08-02T01:36:30ZengElsevierJournal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences2095-75482020-04-0172104113Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutionsJianhua Zhen0Pengfei Zhao1Guangrui Huang2Yini Li3Lu Zhao4Yuhang Zhang5Anlong Xu6School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaDepartment of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USASchool of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Corresponding author.Objective: To explore the structural and functional characteristics of the fecal-associated microbiome (FAM) in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) qi-deficiency constitution (QDC) by comparing with balanced constitution (BC) and screen the related biomarkers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the TCM constitutions of subjects were determined based on published the Classification and Determination of constitution in TCM and further confirmed by a TCM clinician. Clinical characteristics were recorded, and fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing using the Illumina Miseq platform. The FAM structure was described using alpha-diversity indexes, beta-diversity indexes, and the relative abundances of the dominant taxa. Differences in the FAM distribution and function were analyzed with a Wilcoxon rank-sum test, MetagenomeSeq, and LEfSe analysis, after which a receiver operating characteristic curve based on the specific operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was constructed to calculate the area under the curve. Results: Our study population was composed of 22 BCs and 9 QDCs. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the distribution of clinical characteristics or alpha-diversity indexes, except for the sweets preference and blood glucose level. In principal coordinate analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis, the bacterial communities in the BC group samples and QDC group samples clustered separately. Notably, there were 214 OTUs significantly distributed between groups in the MetagenomeSeq analysis, 200 OTUs identified by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and 6 OTUs found by the LEfSe analysis. Predicted function analysis revealed that six metabolic pathways were distinctly distributed between the two groups. The area under the curve for the receiver operating characteristic curve based on the four specific OTUs was 0.88. Conclusion: Unique FAM structural and related functional characteristics are displayed in individuals with a QDC, and four specific OTUs could be used as QDC biomarkers to assist in clinical diagnosis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754820300223Fecal-associated microbiomeTraditional Chinese medicine constitutionQi-deficiency constitutionBalanced constitutionBiomarkers
spellingShingle Jianhua Zhen
Pengfei Zhao
Guangrui Huang
Yini Li
Lu Zhao
Yuhang Zhang
Anlong Xu
Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutions
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences
Fecal-associated microbiome
Traditional Chinese medicine constitution
Qi-deficiency constitution
Balanced constitution
Biomarkers
title Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutions
title_full Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutions
title_fullStr Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutions
title_full_unstemmed Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutions
title_short Fecal-associated microbiome differences between traditional Chinese medicine qi-deficiency and balanced constitutions
title_sort fecal associated microbiome differences between traditional chinese medicine qi deficiency and balanced constitutions
topic Fecal-associated microbiome
Traditional Chinese medicine constitution
Qi-deficiency constitution
Balanced constitution
Biomarkers
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754820300223
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