Bacteroides Fragilis and Microbacterium as Microbial Signatures in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

This study investigates the gut microbiome's role in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and alopecia areata (AA), analyzing fecal samples from 51 participants. It identifies disease-specific microbial patterns, with <i>Bacteroides fragilis</i> significantly enriched in HT, suggesting a potential role in immune modulation, though its mechanisms remain unconfirmed. <i>Microbacterium</i> sp. <i>T32</i> is elevated in both HT and AA, indicating its potential as a shared autoimmune marker. Functional analysis reveals distinct metabolic signatures: increased fermentation and amino acid biosynthesis in AA, and reduced metabolic activity with elevated carbohydrate biosynthesis in HT. These findings highlight <i>Bacteroides fragilis</i> and <i>Microbacterium</i> sp. <i>T32</i> as potential microbial correlates for autoimmune activity, offering insights into disease pathogenesis and microbiome-based intervention targets.