Contribution of the Human Gut Microbiome to the Development and Severity of Guillain-Barr Syndrome
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a prolific gastrointestinal pathogen, accounting for a significant proportion of bacterial diarrheal disease and dysentery worldwide, and particularly afflicts military travelers leading to substantial duty days lost as well as a myriad of chronic health consequences. It is also estimated that C. jejuni infection in 1 of 1000 cases subsequently results in neurological sequelae and paralysis, referred to as Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS). Development of GBS is due to an aberrant autoimmune response directed against GM1ganglioside structures located on host nerve cells. A significant proportion of GBS cases are attributed to antecedent infection by C. jejuni due to its well-established mimicry of ganglioside structures by cell surface lipooligosaccharides (LOS). Our preliminary research has identified other bacteria in the chicken gut microbiota that also mimic GM1-gangliosides. These organisms may play an important role in GBS development, causing immune-mediated tolerance or training toward the ganglioside antigen. Studies are required to establish the prevalence of these bacteria in the human gut and whether gut microbial signatures exist that are associated with GBS development. This project aims to determine whether GM1-expressing bacteria exist in human stools. If so, they will be identified, and we will determine if they are more common among people in Bangladesh and US military personnel that developed GBS than in family members or study participants that were previously afflicted with C. jejuni-induced diarrhea only.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1190564
Entities
People
- David R. Tribble
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences