Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a complex form of chronic disease incorporating a multitude of risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. A collection of these risk factors increases an individuals’ risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (T2D). These non-communicable diseases are a huge burden to the healthcare system for both developing and developed economies alike.
The human gut microbiome is defined as an ecological community consisting of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic organisms. These organisms function in a harmonious manner to maintain the environmental balance within the gut. However, it is also well-established that the human gut microbiome can influence human health and the risk of developing a range of disease conditions. Many experimental studies have demonstrated influence in obesity, insulin resistance and T2D, however, influence on MetS as a whole is not well-known.
Therefore, to better understand the role of the human gut microbiome on the development of metabolic syndrome, we assessed the microbiome from specific gut segments (terminal ileum and rectum) and faecal samples of individuals with and without MetS. We also investigated the serum metabolic profile of these individuals. Preliminary results have indicated the presence of two phyla of bacteria, Fusobacteria and Synergistetes, to be increased in MetS samples. Literature search on these bacteria indicate they are involved in periodontal infections and not in terms of any risk factors associated with MetS. Therefore, metagenomic sequencing on these samples will be undertaken to establish the functional role Fusobacteria and Synergistetes would have on MetS.