The Influence of Modernization and Disease on the Gastric Microbiome of Orang Asli, Myanmars and Modern Malaysians

• Main Authors: Eng Guan Chua, Mun Fai Loke, Selva Perumal Gunaletchumy, Han Ming Gan, Kavitha Thevakumar, Chin Yen Tay, Sylvia Young, Than Than Aye, Win Win Maw, Mya Mya Aye, Alex Hwong-Ruey Leow, Ahmad Najib Azmi, Sri Ganesh Kalimuthu, Haji Mohd Akmal Bin Dato Dahlan, Khean Lee Goh, Jamuna Vadivelu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-06-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>; <i>16S rRNA</i> gene sequencing; Orang Asli; Myanmar; Malaysian; gastric disease; beta diversity; microbiome
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/6/174

The present study explored the differences in gastric microbiome between three distinct populations of Southeast Asia. These include the isolated Orang Asli population and modern Malaysians, as well as patients from Myanmar, the least developed country in the region. All 79 subjects recruited in this study had <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection. Based on alpha diversity analysis, Orang Asli had the richest and most diverse gastric microbiome, followed by Myanmar and modern Malaysian groups. Beta diversity analysis revealed significant separation of samples between different populations. These observations are likely to be associated with the level of modernization of each population. Our data further suggested increased bacterial species richness and diversity of the gastric microbiome in individuals who were less modernized, particularly in the Orang Asli group, could suppress the growth of <i>H. pylori</i>. In addition, there were significant variations in the gastric microbiome between modern Malaysians with different types of gastric diseases. Notably, <i>Cutibacterium acnes</i> was present at significantly greater abundance level in patients with non-ulcerative dyspepsia than those with peptic-ulcer diagnosis. This suggests that <i>C. acnes</i> may also play a role in gastritis besides <i>H. pylori</i>, which merits further investigation.