Metataxonomic strategy to decipher gut bacteriome biomarkers of type 2 diabetes and obesity in Tunisian population.

Metabolic disorders are multifactorial diseases and major global health concerns, with many individuals worldwide responding inadequately to treatments. The gut bacteriome regulates metabolism and offers therapeutic potential; however, research from North Africa remains scarce despite the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the region. This study examines gut bacterial profiles of Tunisian type 2 diabetic (T2D), obese (OB), and non-diabetic (ND) individuals within the framework of personalized medicine. Ninety-five participants were enrolled (33 ND, 26 T2D, 26 T2D with obesity and cardiovascular complications (T2D_OBCV), and 10 OB). Bacterial 16S rDNA V3-V4 regions were sequenced on Illumina MiSeq and analyzed using the QIIME 2 pipeline. Obese subjects exhibited gut dysbiosis with lower Akkermansia (p = 0.02) and Ligilactobacillus (p = 0.04) levels, an enrichment of Bifidobacterium (p = 0.004), as well as Sutterella (p = 0.03) and Erysipelatoclostridium (p = 0.02). However, the gut bacteriome landscape of T2D patients reveals differences in the distribution of Shigella (p = 0.01) highly abundant in the intestine, and a depletion of Clostridia vadin BB 60 group (p = 0.02) and Oscillospiraceae UCG 005 (p = 0.01). Noting that the gut bacteriome of T2D_OBCV patients is characterized by a depletion of Asteroleplasma (p = 0.01), Oscillospiraceae UCG 005 ( p = 0.02), Eubacterium ruminantium group (p= 0,0007), and Romboutsia (p = 0.002) beside an enrichment of Fusicatenibacter (p = 0.02). Gut bacteriome alterations in Tunisian T2D and obese subjects may serve as metabolic biomarkers.