Changes in the gut microbiome can predict and decrease Epstein-Barr virus infection risk in children after liver transplantation.

Objective: Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is observed in 60% of children during the first year after liver transplantation as usage of imm-unosuppressant. Finding predictive indicators of EBV infection is important to reduce the morbidity and mortality of EBV infection-related diseases by suggesting a dose reduction of immunosuppressant.
Methods: We compared and analysed the gut microbiome of EBV-infected children with an asymptomatic virus-carrying status and EBV-uninfected children after liver transplantation using high-throughput sequencing.
Results: Significant differences in gut microbiome composition in two groups were detected. In detail, Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were increased in EBV-infected group, while Clostridium was increased in EBV-uninfected group. Furthermore, CD4 percentage in T cells of blood showed a significant positive correlation with the content of Clostridium sp. CAG: 127 in EBV-uninfected group.
Conclusion: Changes in the gut microbiome could predict and decrease the EBV infection risk of children after liver transplantation.
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