PMC6204186_01
Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA, Bray-Curtis) plots of each sample as a point in a multidimensional space based on the composition of the bacterial population in each sample. Closeness of two points indicates similar bacterial population composition between the samples. PCoA plot of the fecal microbiome of three separate healthy episodes (green dots) and three HAEC episodes (red dots) with measurements performed in duplicate is given. Adonis and ANOSIM tests revealed statistically significant differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiome between healthy and HAEC episodes (Adonis: p=0.009, R2 = 0.31; ANOSIM: p=0.007, R2 = 0.52).
CRIPE2018-3292309.001.jpg
PMC6204186_01_CRIPE2018-3292309.001.jpg
fig1
Adonis and ANOSIM tests. A statistically significant difference in the composition of the fecal microbiome between healthy and HAEC episodes was found (Figure 1).
Mean relative abundances on the phylum levels comparing three healthy episodes and three HAEC episodes. Statistically significant changes were found for the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Cyanobacteria.
CRIPE2018-3292309.002.jpg
PMC6204186_01_CRIPE2018-3292309.002.jpg
fig2
Actinobacteria and significant increases of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Cyanobacteria on the phylum level during HAEC episodes (Figure 2). A detailed overview of the statistically significant differences of the relative abundances on the remaining levels comparing healthy and HAEC episodes is given in Table 1.
Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA, Bray-Curtis) of the fecal microbiome of healthy episodes (green dots) and HAEC episodes (red dots) before probiotic treatment and under probiotic treatment (healthy: blue dots, HAEC: yellow dots). Adonis and ANOSIM tests revealed statistically significant differences in the composition of the fecal microbiome between these episodes (Adonis: p=0.001, R2 = 0.49; ANOSIM: p=0.001, R2 = 0.98). Measurements were performed in duplicates.
CRIPE2018-3292309.003.jpg
PMC6204186_01_CRIPE2018-3292309.003.jpg
fig3
Community analysis of the samples taken before and under probiotics is depicted in Figure 3.
Mean relative abundances on the phylum levels (a) and genus level (b) before and under probiotic treatment in healthy and HAEC episodes. Note that on the genus level, only genera with more than 5% relative abundance are depicted.
CRIPE2018-3292309.004.jpg
PMC6204186_01_CRIPE2018-3292309.004.jpg
fig4
Mean relative abundances on the phylum and genus levels are depicted in Figure 4. On the phylum level, the most striking findings were that, during HAEC episodes under probiotic treatment, the significant increase of Bacteroidetes and the decrease of Actinobacteria were not encountered (compare Figure 4).