Comparative metagenomic analysis of diarrheal and non-diarrheal gut microbiome delineating the identification of prospective prognostic markers and probiotics to protect from diarrhea: a brief report

Introduction: Diarrhea is a leading contributor of mortality globally. To mitigate its disease burden, improved prognosis and alternative therapeutic approaches must be deployed. A cross-sectional gut microbiome analysis of 23 non-diarrheal and 5 diarrheal fecal samples was conducted with the aim of meeting the WHO's GAPPD (Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhea) goals. Hypothesis: Next-generation sequencing is a potent tool being increasingly used for epidemiological surveillance. It can help in the comparison of the structural diversity of the gut microbiome between diarrheal and non-diarrheal samples, thereby aiding in the identification of prospective prognostic and therapeutic candidates. Aim: The pilot study was designed to identify prospective taxa that were comparatively enriched in non-diarrheal samples and to predict gut microbial community interactions. Methodology: 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and subsequent analysis were undertaken for taxonomic profiling and abundance interpretation of OTUs. Results: was identified in all the non-diarrheal samples, while they were absent in diarrheal samples. Conclusion: The OTUs associated with diarrheal dysbiosis can serve as prognostic markers. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the comparative analysis of diarrheal and non-diarrheal microbiome, distinctly addressing the gut microbiome dysbiosis from the context that can lead to the development of prognostic markers and probiotics to protect the endemic population from diarrhea and help in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 3.