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Maes et al. (2008) published the first paper demonstrating that major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by abnormalities in the microbiota–gut–brain axis, as evidenced by elevated serum IgM/IgA to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria, such as Morganella morganii and Klebsiella Pneumoniae. The latter aberrations, which point to increased gut permeability (leaky gut), are linked to activated neuro-immune and oxidative pathways in MDD. To delineate the profile and composition of the gut microbiome in Thai patients with MDD, we examined fecal samples of 32 MDD patients and 37 controls using 16S rDNA sequencing, analyzed α- (Chao1 and Shannon indices) and β-diversity (Bray–Curtis dissimilarity), and conducted linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis. Neither α- nor β-diversity differed significantly between MDD and controls. Rhodospirillaceae, Hungatella, Clostridium bolteae, Hungatella hathewayi, and Clostridium propionicum were significantly enriched in MDD, while Gracillibacteraceae family, Lutispora, and Ruminococcus genus, Ruminococcus callidus, Desulfovibrio piger, Coprococcus comes, and Gemmiger were enriched in controls. Contradictory results have been reported for all these taxa, with the exception of Ruminococcus, which is depleted in six different MDD studies (one study showed increased abundance), many medical disorders that show comorbidities with MDD, and animal MDD models. Our results may suggest a specific profile of compositional gut dysbiosis in Thai MDD patients, with increases in some pathobionts and depletion of some beneficial microbiota. The results suggest that depletion of Ruminococcus may be a more universal biomarker of MDD that may contribute to increased enteral LPS load, LPS translocation, and gut–brain axis abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiome dysbiosis is associated with psoriasis development. A relationship between gut microbiota and psoriasis treatment response has been reported. No study has reported the effect of narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy, a standard treatment of psoriasis, on gut microbiota. This study aimed to evaluate gut microbiota change during NBUVB therapy. Stool samples from 22 participants, including 13 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and nine healthy controls, were recruited. Faecal microbiota composition was analysed using 16S rRNA sequencing before and after NBUVB therapy. Serum 25‐OH vitamin D of patients with psoriasis was evaluated simultaneously. The most abundant phyla of gut microbiota in patients with psoriasis were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in all participants. Bilophila, Paraprevotella, Alistipes, Sutterella, Romboutsia, Clostridium sensu stricto and Agathobacter are significantly more enriched in healthy controls. Lactobacillales and Ruminococus torques appeared more enriched after NBUVB treatment in responders but not non‐responders. Serum vitamin D levels significantly increased after NBUVB treatment. The present study revealed that gut microbiota altered after NBUVB treatment. The change might be treatment‐specific and influence the treatment response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]