Researchers in Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam’s laboratory in collaboration with the University of Iowa’s Colleges of Nursing and Public Health, along with the Department of Neurology have uncovered a significant link between gut microbiota composition and multiple sclerosis (MS). The study identified a specific microbial ratio in the gut microbiome that correlates not only with the presence of MS but also with the severity of the disease. These findings provide important insights into how gut health may influence autoimmune disorders and could pave the way for microbiome-based diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for MS.

Researchers have found that the ratio of Bifidobacterium to Akkermansia is consistently lower in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls. This trend was observed both in the University of Iowa MS cohort and independently validated by the large-scale International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study (IMSMS), lending strong support to the association between gut microbial imbalances and MS.

Furthermore, the study revealed a distinct shift in gut microbial composition between MS patients and healthy individuals. Prevotella copri, a beneficial bacterium, was found to be more abundant in healthy controls, while Blautia species were more prominent in those with MS, suggesting potential microbial signatures of disease presence.

Animal model experiments mirrored these human findings: mice exhibiting an imbalanced Bifidobacterium-to-Akkermansia ratio developed more severe MS-like symptoms reinforcing the idea that gut microbiota may play a predictive and possibly causative role in MS pathogenesis. These insights highlight the potential of targeting the gut microbiome for future diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions in MS management.

Overall, the study suggests that the ratio between symbionts (beneficial microbes) and pathobionts (potentially harmful microbes) could serve as a broader, clinically relevant indicator of health and disease beyond just multiple sclerosis (MS). This symbiont-to-pathobiont ratio may act as a valuable biomarker in microbiome research, offering a new framework for assessing microbial imbalances across a range of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. By providing a quantifiable measure of microbial health this metric could help guide future diagnostic prognostic and therapeutic strategies in personalized medicine and support the development of microbiome-based interventions for various chronic diseases.

Source: https://pathology.medicine.uiowa.edu/news/2025/07/mangalam-lab-finds-association-between-microbial-ratio-gut-microbiome-multiple