Evaluation of gut microbial diversity and correlation in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with hand, foot and mouth disease

• With the proposal of the concept of “metagenomics” and the development of sequencing technology, 16S rRNA gene profiling has been widely applied in the survey of microbial diversity. This study explored the gut microbiota of children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). This study investigated the gut microbiota of 24 children with asymptomatic and symptomatic hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and 19 healthy controls using 16S rRNA sequencing. The gut microbiota, both in asymptomatic and symptomatic HFMD patients, was distinct from the controls, with the composition of gut microbiota in the HFMD cases represented a significant difference. The dysbiosis of gut microbiota of the HFMD cases included a reduction of butyrate-producing bacteria and an up-regulation of inflammation-inducing bacteria. These may have impaired the intestinal biological mucosal barrier and host immune functions, promoting the invasion of the enterovirus. • 16S rRNA sequencing was used to investigate gut microbiota in HFMD children. • Both symptomatic and asymptomatic HFMD groups showed distinct microbiota profiles compared to healthy controls. • HFMD-associated microbiota exhibited a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria. • An enrichment of inflammation-related taxa was observed in HFMD patients. • Gut microbial dysbiosis may contribute to enterovirus invasion via impaired mucosal barrier and immune function.