Integrated multi-omics highlights alterations of gut microbiome functions in prodromal and idiopathic Parkinson’s disease

Research overview

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Summary Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with gut microbiome shifts, but the functional consequences remain unclear. Here, we use an integrated multi-omics approach to compare the gut microbiomes of individuals with PD and prodromal PD as well as healthy individuals. After analyzing each omics, meta-metabolomic was selected to inform the analysis as it represents the most discriminatory and robust ome. We identified 11 metabolites that were differentially abundant between the groups, amongst which β-glutamate was increased in PD and prodromal PD, and correlated with the transcriptional activities of Methanobrevibacter smithii and Clostridium spp. We identified decreases in transcripts, but not in gene abundances, related to glutamate metabolism, bile acids, chemotaxis and flagellar assembly in PD, particularly in keystone genera such as Roseburia, Agathobacter and Blautia . Our findings, integrated into the Expobiome map, reveal multifactorial microbiome alterations which converge with PD pathways. Our study highlights the importance of investigating the gut microbiome’s functional dimensions to better resolve microbiome-host interactions in health and disease.

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