# Disorders of Gut Microbiota and Plasma Metabolic Profiles May Be Associated with Lymph Node Tuberculosis

## TL;DR

This study finds that gut microbiota and metabolic changes are linked to lymph node tuberculosis, suggesting new treatment possibilities.

## Contribution

The study is the first to explore gut microbiota and plasma metabolites in lymph node tuberculosis patients.

## Key findings

- LNTB patients show reduced gut bacteria linked to short-chain fatty acid synthesis.
- Plasma metabolites related to SCFA synthesis and inflammation are disrupted in LNTB.
- Specific gut microbes correlate with key plasma metabolites in LNTB patients.

## Abstract

The association of gut microbiota with lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB) remains unexplored. This study employed metagenomic sequencing and plasma metabolomics analyses to investigate the role of gut microbiota in LNTB patients. Significant alterations in gut microbial diversity were observed in LNTB patients, characterized by a notable reduction in bacterial taxa involved in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis, including Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Blautia, compared to healthy individuals. KEGG pathway analysis further revealed that gut dysbiosis could negatively impact SCFA biosynthesis and metabolism. Plasma metabolomics demonstrated disruptions in metabolites associated with SCFA synthesis and inflammation pathways in the LNTB group. Integrated analysis indicated significant correlations between specific gut microbiota (Blautia, Butyricicoccus, Coprococcus, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, Clostridium) and plasma metabolites, including α-benzylbutyric acid, acetic acid, and succinic acid. Our findings demonstrate that gut microbiota dysbiosis and related metabolic dysfunction significantly reduce SCFA production in LNTB patients, potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets for LNTB management.