Shotgun metagenomics reveals significant gut microbiome features in different grades of acute pancreatitis

Abstract Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) has a broad spectrum of severity and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the composition and functional effects of gut microbiota in different grades of AP severity. Results: Gut microbiota in AP patients was characterized by decreased species richness. The most representative gut microbiota in mild acute pancreatitis (MAP), moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP), and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) was Streptococcus, Escherichia-coli, and Enterococcus, respectively. Each of the three AP-associated genera could differentiate AP from healthy control population. Representative pathways associated with the glutathione metabolism, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism (valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation) were enriched in MAP, MSAP, and SAP, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that in patients with AP, the gut microbiome composition and function are correlated with different severity of AP from a whole-genome perspective, and new changes are observed.