Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41051180›Full record

ArticleAnnals of clinical and translational neurology2026

Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Is Associated With a Dysbiotic Oral Microbiome.

Sukirth M Ganesan, Meeta Yadav, Sudeep Ghimire, Peter C Lehman, Apurva J Patel, Sydney Woods, Heena Olalde, Jemmie Hoang, Mishelle Paullus, Catherine Cherwin and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of clinical and translational neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Sukirth M GanesanDepartment of Periodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6303-7287
Meeta YadavDepartment of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Sudeep GhimireDepartment of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Peter C LehmanDepartment of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Apurva J PatelDepartment of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Sydney WoodsDepartment of Periodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Heena OlaldeDepartment of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Jemmie HoangCollege of Nursing University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Mishelle PaullusExperimental Pathology Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Catherine CherwinCollege of Nursing University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Christine GillDepartment of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Tracey ChoDepartment of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Ashutosh K MangalamDepartment of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9926-2531

Funding

INTERDISCIPLINARY IMMUNOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMT32AI007260 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI BUTLER, NOAH SULLIVAN, WU, LI · 1986 to 2023
$5.7M
University of Iowa Institutional Training Program in Oral Health ResearchT90DE023520 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI STEVEN M. LEVY · 2013 to 2026
$5.6M
Exploratory Center of Excellence for Advancing Multimorbidity Science (CAMS)P20NR018081 · NINR · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI GARDNER, SUE E, RAKEL, BARBARA · 2018 to 2022
$2.2M
Linking diet, gut microbiota and autoimmune disease: Bacteria induced phytoestrogen metabolites impact immune function in Experimental Autoimmune EncephalitisR01AI137075 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI MANGALAM, ASHUTOSH KUMAR · 2018 to 2022
$2.0M
Carver TrustCSRD VA I01 CX002212Department of Pathology, University of IowaNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA 1RO1AI137075National Institute of Health, USA 10.13039/100000002NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI137075NIAID NIH HHS T32 AI007260NIDCR NIH HHS T90 DE023520NIH HHS 5T90DE023520NIH HHS T32AI007260NINR NIH HHS 1P20NR018081-01NINR NIH HHS P20 NR018081University of Iowa Environmental Health Sciences Research CenterUS department of Veterans Affairs 1I01CX002212
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurological impairment. While the gut microbiota's role in MS is extensively studied, the association between the oral microbiota and MS remains underexplored, particularly in North American cohorts. This study aimed to investigate the microbiota (bacterial) composition as well as functional pathways and immune profiles of the oral cavity in 60 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), stratified by treatment status, compared to 44 healthy controls (HC).

methodsUnstimulated saliva was collected for genomic DNA extraction and salivary cytokine quantification. Oral bacterial composition and diversity were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, with functional pathways inferred using PICRUSt2. Salivary cytokine levels were measured via multiplex immunoassays. LEfSe and random forest models identified key discriminatory taxa, and correlations between microbiota and cytokines were assessed using Spearman's rank analysis.

resultsRRMS patients exhibited distinct microbial communities compared to HC and a higher Bacteroidota to Firmicutes ratio. Key taxa such as Campylobacter, Lachnoanaerobaculum, and Porphyromonas were enriched in RRMS. Functional profiling revealed 49 differentially abundant pathways, including the enrichment of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in MS. Elevated levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, and other cytokines correlated with the altered microbiome. IL-21, elevated in HC, correlated with anti-inflammatory pathways, suggesting a protective role in immune homeostasis.

interpretationThis study provides, for the first time, insights into oral microbiome-host interactions in North American RRMS patients, underscoring the interplay between microbial dysbiosis, functional pathways, and immune dysregulation. The oral microbiome shows potential as a biomarker for MS-related immune alterations.

Indexed as

DysbiosisMicrobiotaMouthMultiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingAdultCytokinesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSalivaCytokinesRNA, Ribosomal, 16Scytokinesdysbiosisinflammationmultiple sclerosisoral microbiome

Identifiers

PMID41051180
PMCPMC12883679

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.