Gulf War illness (GWI) is a chronic condition significantly affecting veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War.
A range of symptoms, including fatigue, pain, cognitive impairment, and gastrointestinal issues characterize GWI. Despite extensive research, the underlying causes of GWI are still not fully understood.
A recent study sheds some light on the role of the gut microbiome in the development and persistence of GWI symptoms. The study found that feeding GWI model mice a Western-style diet led to changes in the gut microbiome, which were associated with the further development of GWI symptoms.
This article takes a closer look at the study on GWI, where microbiome analysis was conducted using the CosmosID-Hub. Read on to learn more.
Background
The study, titled “Microbiome Dysbiosis Shows Strong Association of Gut-Derived Altered Metabolomic Profile in Gulf War Chronic Multisymptom Illness Symptom Persistence Following Western Diet Feeding and Development of Obesity,” examined the link between gut microbiome dysbiosis and the development of GWI symptoms in a mouse model.
The microbiome analysis in the study was conducted by CosmosID (Germantown, MD, USA). First, DNA was extracted from mouse stool samples. Then, the genetic material from the samples was sequenced using shotgun metagenomics in 150 bp long paired-end reads.
The researchers used CosmosID’s metagenomic sequencing technology (CosmosID-HUB Microbiome) to analyze the gut microbiome of the GWI model mice fed a Western-style diet and those fed a control diet.
The CosmosID-HUB microbiome enabled the researchers to identify and quantify the microbial species present in the samples, and their functional pathways, too. This allowed the researchers to investigate the complex interactions between the gut microbiome, diet, and metabolic processes, shedding new light on the role of the gut microbiome in the development and persistence of GWI symptoms.
What were the findings?
The study found that feeding mice a Western-style diet led to alterations in the gut microbiome, including a decrease in beneficial bacteria and an increase in harmful bacteria. These changes were associated with the development of GWI symptoms.
The study also found that these changes in the gut microbiome were linked to alterations in the mice’s metabolomic profile, suggesting that changes in the gut microbiome can impact metabolic processes in the body.
The study also found that these changes in the gut microbiome were linked to alterations in the mice metabolomic profile, suggesting that changes in the gut microbiome can impact metabolic processes in the body. These changes are associated with the symptoms of GWI.
The study highlights the potential impact of diet on the gut microbiome and overall health. The Western-style diet used in the study, which is high in fat and sugar, is known to be associated with a range of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
The study suggests that the diet may also impact the gut microbiome and contribute to the development of GWI symptoms.
These findings may have implications in understanding the underlying mechanisms of GWI and developing effective treatments for the condition. They suggest that interventions aimed at restoring a healthy gut microbiome, such as probiotics or dietary changes, may be a promising avenue for treating GWI symptoms.
In summary
To sum up, the study provides important new insights into the role of the gut microbiome in the development and persistence of GWI symptoms.
While more research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, the study suggests that interventions aimed at restoring a healthy gut microbiome may be a promising avenue for treating this debilitating condition.
How did Cosmos-ID support this research?
CosmosID’s microbiome analysis technology, CosmosID-HUB Microbiome, was used to identify and quantify the microbial species present in the samples. This allowed the researchers to investigate the complex interactions between the gut microbiome, diet, and metabolic processes, shedding new light on the role of the gut microbiome in GWI symptoms development and persistence.
The technology also enabled the researchers to analyze the functional pathways associated with changes in the gut microbiome. This data provided insight into how diet and metabolic processes can impact GWI symptoms.
Overall, CosmosID’s powerful platform was instrumental in providing evidence that changes in the gut microbiome can have a significant effect on overall health and contribute to the development and persistence of GWI symptoms.
Looking for state-of-the-art microbiome sequencing to further your own research?
At CosmosID, we provide a number of microbiome sequencing and bioinformatics services, supporting a range of industries and applications. Our powerful data-centric platform is designed to enable accurate, fast, and cost-effective microbiome analysis for a variety of research needs.
Whether you’re looking to analyze the gut microbiome in human health or microorganisms in environmental samples, we have the cutting-edge tools and expertise you need to achieve your research objectives.
Get in touch to find out more about our services and how we can support your research.
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