Gut Microbiota Profiles in Myopes and Nonmyopes

Abstract

Purpose To identify compositional differences in the gut microbiome of nonmyopes (NM) and myopes using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and to investigate whether the microbiome may contribute to the onset or progression of the condition. Methods Faecal samples were collected from 52 adult participants, of whom 23 were NM, 8 were progressive myopes (PM), and 21 were stable myopes (SM). The composition of the gut microbiota in each group was analysed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Results There were no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between the three groups (NM, PM, and SM). However, the distributions of Bifidobacterium , Bacteroides , Megamonas , Faecalibacterium , Coprococcus , Dorea , Roseburia , and Blautia were significantly higher in the myopes (SM and PM combined) when compared with emmetropes. The myopes exhibited significantly greater abundance of bacteria that are linked to the regulation of dopaminergic signalling, such as Clostridium , Ruminococcus , Bifidobacterium , and Bacteroides . Individuals with stable myopia were found to have a significantly higher proportion of Prevotella copri than those with progressive myopia. Bifidobacterium adolescentis , a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)–producing bacterium, was significantly higher in all myopes than in NM and, in the comparison between SM and PM, it is significantly higher in SM. B. uniformis and B. fragilis , both GABA-producing Bacteroides , were present in relatively high abundance in all myopes and in SM compared with PM, respectively. Conclusions The presence of bacteria related to dopamine effect and GABA-producing bacteria in the gut microbiome of myopes may suggest a role of these microorganisms in the onset and progression of myopia.

Exploring the Ocular Surface Microbiome and Tear Proteome in Glaucoma

“…This study aimed to investigate the OSM and tear proteome in glaucoma patients compared to sex-matched healthy controls. The OSM, comprising microorganisms and their genomes on the eye’s surface, has been relatively unexplored compared to other body sites [ 20 , 28 ].…”

“…However, while there are associations between gut microbiome dysbiosis [ 17 , 18 , 19 ] and the development of glaucoma [ 5 ], as well as other diseases, the role of the ocular surface microbiome (OSM) in glaucoma has not been explored so far. The OSM refers to the collective community of microorganisms and their genomes on the surface of the eye, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. The investigation of the OSM in this study stems from a gap in prior research, particularly the Human Microbiome Project, which primarily focused on characterizing microbiomes across various body sites but excluded the eye [ 28 ].…”