Characterization of Bile Microbiota in Patients With Obstructive Jaundice Associated With Biliary Tract Diseases.

INTRODUCTION

Cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL), a malignant tumor of the biliary system, is particularly concerning because of its high malignancy and poor prognosis, often leading to obstructive jaundice. The advent of metagenomic next-generation sequencing technology has expanded diagnostic capabilities, including the identification of microbes within tumors and their potential role in cancer progression. The aims of this study were to explore the bacterial composition in bile from patients with obstructive jaundice of different etiologies and to investigate the association between bile microbiota and biochemical analytes, as well as their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis of obstructive jaundice diseases.

METHODS

Bile samples from patients with obstructive jaundice admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital were collected and subjected to 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing. The study included patients diagnosed with benign biliary stricture, gallstone, and CHOL. Clinical data and bile chemical components were analyzed. The potential functional roles of the identified microbiota were predicted using bioinformatics tools.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 13 patients with benign biliary stricture, 19 with gallstones, and 10 with CHOL. Significant differences in bile chemical components and microbial diversity were observed among the groups. The bile microbiota was dominated by distinct phyla and genera across the groups, with Proteobacteria and Fusobacteriota enriched in benign biliary stricture, Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota in CHOL, and Synergistota in patients with gallstone. Functional analysis revealed differences in gene functions related to metabolism and other biological processes. A correlation between bile microbiota and biochemical markers was established, and the combination of differential microbiota showed potential as a diagnostic marker for obstructive jaundice of different etiologies.

DISCUSSION: Bile microbiota varies significantly among patients with obstructive jaundice of different etiologies. The identified microbial signatures and their functional roles could serve as novel diagnostic markers and provide insights into the pathogenesis of biliary diseases.