Untargeted Metabolomics of Feces Reveals Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Active Tuberculosis and Latent Tuberculosis Infection: Potential Application for Precise and Non-Invasive Identification

Dan Luo,1,2,* Bo-Yi Yang,3,* Kai Qin,4 Chong-Yu Shi,3 Nian-Sa Wei,4 Hai Li,1 Yi-Xiang Qin,1 Gang Liu,1 Xiao-Ling Qin,1 Shi-Yi Chen,1 Xiao-Jing Guo,1 Li Gan,1 Ruo-Lan Xu,1 Bai-Qing Dong,1 Jing Li5 1Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Management of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Guangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Treating High-Incidence Infectious Diseases with Integrative Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 3The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 4The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 5Deparment of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bai-Qing Dong, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 13 Wuhe Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530200, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-771-4928360, Email 764937318@qq.com Jing Li, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-771-5358212, Email lijing@gxmu.edu.cnPurpose: Distinguishing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) from active tuberculosis (ATB) is important to control the prevalence of tuberculosis; however, there is currently no effective method. The aim of this study was to discover specific metabolites through fecal untargeted metabolomics to discriminate ATB, individuals with LTBI, and healthy controls (HC) and to probe the metabolic perturbation associated with the progression of tuberculosis.Patients and Methods: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to comprehensively detect compounds in fecal samples from HC, LTBI, and ATB patients. Differential metabolites