Dysfunctional gut microbiota and relative co-abundance network in infantile eczema

BACKGROUND: Infantile eczema is an immunological disease that is characterized by itchy and dry skin. Recent studies have suggested that gut microbiota (GM) plays a role in the development and progression of eczema. To further evaluate this potential link, we collected feces from 19 infants with eczema and 14 infants without eczema and analyzed the molecular discrepancies between the two groups using 16S rDNA analysis. RESULTS: Bacteroidaceae and Deinococcaceae were significantly enriched in eczema infants, and Bacteroidaceae was potentially involved in autoimmune diseases by promoting the Th17 (T helper cell 17) secretion of IL-17 (interleukin-17). In the infants without eczema, the co-abundance network featured three core nodes: Clostridiaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Lactobacillaceae, all of which were lacking in the infants with eczema. Furthermore, our data suggested that Enterobacteriaceae was the core of the co-abundance network for the diseased subjects. CONCLUSIONS: GM is closely connected to the human immune system, and the dysbiotic GM network plays a role in eczema. This study furthered our understanding of the dynamic GM network and its correlation to the occurrence of eczema. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13099-016-0118-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.