Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41093739›Full record

ArticleEBioMedicine2025

Alterations of the nasal and oral microbiota in multiple sclerosis.

Shuqi Li, Federico Montini, Anya Song, Valerie Willocq, Emily Chan, Rebecca Shamah, Mira Weiner, Bonnie I Glanz, Howard L Weiner, Laura M Cox

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in EBioMedicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Tobacco smoking disrupts bile acid and tryptophan metabolism in multiple sclerosis.Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
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

10 authors.

Shuqi LiDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Federico MontiniDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Anya SongDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Valerie WillocqDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Emily ChanDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Rebecca ShamahDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Mira WeinerDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Bonnie I GlanzDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Howard L WeinerDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Laura M CoxDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA. Electronic address: lcox@bwh.harvard.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile changes in the gut microbiota have been reported in multiple sclerosis (MS), little is known about the nasal and oral microbiota, which are important modulators of the mucosal immune system. The gingival microbiota can drive systemic inflammation, the pharyngeal microbiota can lead to autoimmune-mediated neurologic diseases, and altered nasal bacterial toxigenic genes are reported in active MS.

methodsWe investigated nasal, gingival, and oropharyngeal microbiota from 69 MS to 40 healthy control subjects by 16S rRNA sequencing and identified site-specific microbiota differences in both the nasal and oral microbiota related to relapsing and progressive MS. We identified microbes associated with MS diagnosis, disease progression, disease modifying therapy, smoking, and anatomical site using linear regression analysis while controlling for confounding factors and subject demographics.

findingsWe identified site-specific microbiota differences in both the nasal and oral microbiota related to relapsing and progressive MS. Using baseline microbiota samples and clinical outcomes over time, we identified potential beneficial microbes, including Dolosigranulum pigrum in the nasal microbiota and Prevotella sp. in the oral microbiota, as well as potential detrimental Streptococcus sp. in the oral microbiota.

interpretationTaken together, our data suggest that nasal and oral microbiota are altered in MS, are linked to the disease course and provide an avenue to better understand MS pathogenesis and treatment.

fundingThis work was supported by the Nancy Davis Race to Erase MS Young Investigator Award (LMC), NIH/NINDS R01NS087226 (HLW), Water Cove Charitable Foundation (HLW), and the Clara E. and John H. Ware Jr. Foundation (HLW, LMC).

Indexed as

MicrobiotaMouthMultiple SclerosisNoseAdultCase-Control StudiesFemaleGingivaHumansMaleMiddle AgedRNA, Ribosomal, 16SRNA, Ribosomal, 16SDisease progressionMultiple sclerosisNasal microbiomeOral microbiome

Identifiers

PMID41093739
PMCPMC12790149

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.