Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam, Associate Professor in Pathology, and Ti-Ara Turner, a PhD student in Immunology, have co-authored an insightful review titled "Game of Microbes: The Battle Within – Gut Microbiota and Multiple Sclerosis" in the journal Gut Microbes.

MS is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Among genetic contributors, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes have shown the strongest association. Meanwhile, the trillions of microbes residing in the gut have emerged as key environmental factors in the pathobiology of MS. The article discusses how MS patients exhibit altered gut microbiota (dysbiosis) and explores how gut microbes and their metabolites modulate immune responses, contributing to disease progression.

The review also examines the therapeutic potential of gut microbiota. By understanding how host and environmental factors shape the microbiome and its interaction with the immune system, researchers may uncover novel strategies for treating MS.

Co-authors of this article include Peter Lehman, Sudeep Ghimire, and Shailesh Shahi, reflecting a collaborative effort to address this complex topic. The work builds upon the Mangalam lab’s extensive research at the intersection of diet, gut microbiota, and autoimmune diseases, including prior studies on the benefits of phytoestrogen-rich diets in alleviating MS symptoms.

This article underscores the evolving understanding of MS and highlights the promising avenue of microbiome-based interventions.

The review can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2024.2387794.