Presenters: Clayton Rawson, College of Science, Biology
Authors: Clayton D. Rawson, Victoria A. Hooper, Riley J. Hansen, Micheala Gazdik-Stofer PhD
Faculty Advisor: Michaela Gazdik-Stofer, College of Science, Biology
Institution: Utah Valley University
The human microbiome is the community of microbes associated with the human body. Imbalances in the microbiome is associated with a variety of symptoms. Celiac Disease (CD) is characterized by an immune response in the small intestine that is triggered by the protein gluten, found in wheat. Previous studies have identified microbial dysbiosis in patients with CD. To better understand changes in the microbiome of celiac patients we examined the microbiome diversity and composition in CD patients compared to healthy individuals on gluten-free diets. This will help identify what microbiome changes are associated with CD compared to those that are caused by the CD patient's lack of gluten in their diet. We analyzed: those diagnosed with CD and on a gluten-free diet, those who do not have CD and are on a gluten-free diet, and those who do not have CD and are not on a specific diet. The dietary and disease influences on the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract was analyzed via a single stool sample collected from each study subject. Microbial DNA was extracted using the QIAamp PowerFecal DNA kit following the manufacturer's specifications (Qiagen) V3/V4 region of 16s rRNA will be sequenced using the 600 cycle v3 MiSeq kit (Illumina). Sequenced data was statistically analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis analysis. At the phylum level data between the groups was not statistically significant. However, at the genus level, there was statistical significant with two genera. The first was the archaea Methanobrevibacter, which was found only in the control group (P=0.212). The second was the bacteria Dialister, which two-fold higher in the CD group compared to the control and was nine-fold higher in the control group compared to the GF group (P=0.0204). Further analysis is needed to determine if these microbiome changes could have physiological relevance.