Doctor Ashutosh Mangalam recently conducted a study examining the affect of Prevotella histicola, or P. histicola, a bacteria found in the human gut, as a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, he and his team compared P. histicola and Copaxone, a traditional MS treatment, in a mouse model. Their goal was to evaluate which would be most effective in suppressing disease. The findings were quite astonishing.

The team found that the bacteria was just as effective as the traditional treatment.

What led them to this investigation of a gut bacteria you might ask? It started with a simple analysis of the microbiomes of multiple sclerosis patients.

The Initial Study

Dr. Mangalam, along with his colleagues at the Mayo Clinic, had previously worked to understand the differences between the microbiomes of those with MS and the microbiomes of healthy individuals. Their investigation showed these differences are actually quite significant. MS patients had much lower levels of the P. histicola bacteria among others.

They then went on to examine the exact role of P. histicola within the gut. They found that this particular bacteria worked to reduce myelin damage and suppress inflammation.

That is when the team began examining whether or not the bacteria could actually serve as a treatment for MS. Using a mouse model again, they studied P. histicola verses Copaxone. They found that the bacteria was just as effective as the conventional therapy. A combination of the two did unfortunately not prove to be any more effective than either therapy on its own.

The bacteria was found to suppress the disease using a different mechanism than Copaxone. P. histicola works by increasing the amount of Tregs in the body, a type of immune cell that works to control inflammation. There are a few potential therapies in development for MS that work by increasing Treg levels.

Researchers are so excited about these findings because they believe it could provide an alternative option for MS patients. This new discovery could be especially beneficial for those patients who do not respond to conventional therapies like Copaxone.

This study was published in Frontiers in Immunology.

You can read more about this investigation of gut bacteria as a treatment for MS here.