Verrucomicrobiae and Oscillospiraceae Are Key Bacterial Taxa in a Predictive Model of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by immune infiltration, inflammation and neurodegeneration of the central nervous system, with the progressive form of disease remaining challenging to diagnose early and manage effectively. Emerging evidence links gut microbiota changes to multiple sclerosis pathogenesis. This variation may be influenced by age, environmental factors and lifestyle factors, such as smoking; however, the specific microbial taxa associated with progressive multiple sclerosis and their potential as diagnostic markers remain unclear. Our study addresses this gap by examining differentially abundant gut microbial taxa of progressive multiple sclerosis patients based on age, disease course, and smoking history to develop a predictive model for identifying progressive multiple sclerosis. We identified Verrucomicrobiae and Oscillospiraceae as two key differentially abundant taxa serving as predictors to distinguish progressive multiple sclerosis patients from healthy individuals, using age-specific and combined predictive models. Our results suggest a promising predictive tool which may be used for early diagnosis of progressive multiple sclerosis in clinical applications.