Information gain-based molecular ecological network reveals core microbial taxa involved in gastrointestinal recovery following H. pylori infection and intervention with Weizmannia coagulans BC99 in mice.

Helicobacter pylori infection is closely linked to gastric diseases such as ulcers and cancer. Recent studies have suggested that probiotics may help regulate H. pylori-induced dysbiosis. In this study, 25 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 5 per group), including a control group, an H. pylori model group, and three BC99 intervention groups receiving low, medium, and high doses, after a 1-week acclimation period. The mice were infected for 1 week and then received BC99 intervention for 4 weeks, examines gastrointestinal microbiome dynamics from infection through recovery following probiotic intervention. A specificity-enhanced, information gain-based molecular ecological network approach was utilized to identify the core microbial taxa in H. pylori-infected mice. We evaluated microbiota restoration, serum inflammatory markers, and digestive enzyme activity utilizing network similarity, linear discriminant analysis, and Euclidean distance metrics for evaluation, followed by causal inference to elucidate microbial interactions. Among the tested groups, high-dose Weizmannia coagulans BC99 exhibited the most pronounced effects. H. pylori primarily disrupted nodes in microbial community 1, while BC99 restored this network structure and promoted microbial balance. Network similarity in the intestine increased from 0.39 to 0.60, and in the stomach it increased from 0.53 to 0.62. Serum indices improved from 0.41 to 0.58, and digestive enzyme activity increased from 0.612 to 0.682. Notably, Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillaceae exhibited strong causal relationships with H. pylori and Escherichia-Shigella, while Lachnospiraceae and Muribaculaceae were associated with several microbial taxa and physiological indices in the stomach and intestine, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of BC99 in alleviating H. pylori-induced dysbiosis and improving host systemic health, thereby providing a theoretical basis for probiotic-based interventions in gastrointestinal disorders.