Metagenomic Analysis of gut flora Structure and Function in Neonates Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is a prevalent respiratory condition in newborns that significantly impacts their health and survival rates. In recent years, the potential role of the gut-lung axis in NRDS has garnered increasing attention; however, its specific contributions remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a metagenomics analysis of fecal samples obtained from an observational cohort including NRDS (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 15). The results indicated alterations in both the structure and function of the gut flora in NRDS. Specifically, the NRDS group exhibited significantly greater relative abundances of Bacillota and Nematoda compared to the control group, while the relative abundances of Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Bacteroidota, and Fusobacteriota were significantly lower. At the genus level, the NRDS group demonstrated greater abundances of Klebsiella, Escherichia, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus and reduced abundances of Bifidobacterium and Enterobacter. Functional changes included the upregulation of the Staphylococcus aureus infection and the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and the downregulation of metabolic pathways, such as butanoate metabolism and glutathione metabolism. Additionally, both synergistic and mutually exclusive relationships between gut microbiota as well as between gut microbiota and clinical factors were observed. These results increase our overall comprehension of NRDS pathogenesis and offer important resources for identifying potential biomarkers.