Theresa L. Montgomery, et al. – University of Vermont.
This study identified components of the gut microbiome that were predictive of subsequent worsening of EDSS scores, providing a potential biomarker of patients most in need of aggressive interventions. These bacteria are associated with lower production of vitamin K and short-chain fatty acids, as well as higher production of ubiquinol. Intriguingly, some bacteria associated with a lack of disease progression are also enriched in patients with MS compared to healthy controls, indicating a complex relationship between gut microbiome composition and disease status.