Gender based Microbiome Shifts for ME/CFS and other conditions

A question was ask – are there significant gender differences with ME/CFS. A partial answer is possible from our citizen science data (Available here). The number of bacteria identify as statistical significant drops because we are reducing sample sizes. The table below shows the shifts that are seen in common with P < 0.01.

For Symptom of ME/CFS

SourceTax_nametax_rankMaleFemaleMale_Chi2FeMale_Chi2
thryveThermodesulfobacteriaphylumincreasesincreases234.0375138.4544
biomesightVerrucomicrobiaceaefamilyincreasesincreases8.3333337.262051
biomesightRhodothermaeotaphylumincreasesincreases179.2217.3071
biomesightAkkermansiaceaefamilyincreasesincreases8.7183789.965634
biomesightErysipelothrix murisspeciesincreasesincreases9.53388910.08333
biomesightAkkermansiagenusincreasesincreases8.7183789.965634
biomesightRhodothermalesorderincreasesincreases179.2217.3071
biomesightAkkermansia muciniphilaspeciesincreasesincreases8.7183789.965634
biomesightErysipelothrixgenusincreasesincreases9.6632899.663289
biomesightRhodothermiaclassincreasesincreases179.2217.3071
biomesightThermodesulfobacteriaphylumincreasesincreases281.1738299.9112

ME/CFS With IBS

We find differences here.

SourceTax_nametax_rankTaxonMaleFemaleMale_Chi2FeMale_Chi2
biomesightSutterellagenus40544decreaseincreases8.33333311.25018
biomesightRhodothermalesorder1853224increasesincreases139.9274114.5716
biomesightDoreagenus189330increasesdecrease18.7516.17875
biomesightRhodothermiaclass1853222increasesincreases139.9274114.5716
biomesightThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases280.3333187.9779
biomesightSutterellaceaefamily995019decreaseincreases8.33333311.25018
biomesightAlcaligenaceaefamily506decreaseincreases8.3333339.120714
biomesightRhodothermaeotaphylum1853220increasesincreases139.9274114.5716

ME/CFS Without IBS

We found no differences yet (given the sample size)

SourceTax_nametax_rankTaxonMaleFemaleMale_Chi2FeMale_Chi2
biomesightBacteroides fluxusspecies626930increasesincreases7.3551617.910588
biomesightThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases124.4571170.4624

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Following up from above and noting that there is a gender bias in incidence, we find some differences

thryveThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases252.823295.10095
biomesightRhodothermalesorder1853224increasesincreases125.1467110.6182
biomesightRhodothermiaclass1853222increasesincreases125.1467110.6182
biomesightThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases314.4971174.6182
biomesightRhodothermaeotaphylum1853220increasesincreases125.1467110.6182
biomesightSharpea azabuensisspecies322505increasesincreases16.185266.80625
biomesightSharpeagenus519427increasesincreases16.185266.80625
thryveMycoplasmagenus2093increasesdecrease12.8152420.3229
thryveMycoplasmataceaefamily2092increasesdecrease14.8858120.3229
thryvePhocaeicola vulgatusspecies821increasesdecrease7.89349217.06273
thryveMycoplasmatalesorder2085increasesdecrease14.8858126.01485

Depression

Another condition with a gender association

SourceTax_nametax_rankTaxonMaleFemaleMale_Chi2FeMale_Chi2
thryveThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases227.7557148.4336
thryveParabacteroides distasonisspecies823decreaseincreases9.11835613.46941
thryveEubacterium oxidoreducensspecies1732decreaseincreases12.995076.76
biomesightRhodothermalesorder1853224increasesincreases121.200291.125
biomesightRhodothermiaclass1853222increasesincreases121.200291.125
biomesightThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases223.4402189.2431
biomesightRhodothermaeotaphylum1853220increasesincreases121.200291.125
thryveLactobacillus rogosaespecies706562decreasedecrease23.8836812.12781

Symptom: Problems remembering things

This is one of the characteristics of ME/CFS, Long Covid, etc

SourceTax_nametax_rankTaxonMaleFemaleMale_Chi2FeMale_Chi2
thryveThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases316.4446120.0944
biomesightRhodothermalesorder1853224increasesincreases171.7445133.3333
biomesightRhodothermiaclass1853222increasesincreases171.7445133.3333
biomesightThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases369.0078289.0992
biomesightOdoribacteraceaefamily1853231increasesincreases12.793117.962632
biomesightRhodothermaeotaphylum1853220increasesincreases171.7445133.3333
biomesightAcetivibriogenus35829decreaseincreases9.18086517.49208
biomesightOdoribactergenus283168increasesincreases9.33494912
biomesightAcetivibrio alkalicellulosispecies320502decreaseincreases9.18086519.95636
biomesightHathewaya histolyticaspecies1498decreaseincreases9.1808657.262051
biomesightHathewayagenus1769729decreaseincreases9.1808657.262051
biomesight[Clostridium] thermoalcaliphilumspecies29349increasesincreases7.356.880909
thryveIntestinimonasgenus1392389decreaseincreases168.552727
thryveIntestinimonas butyriciproducensspecies1297617decreaseincreases16.486469.992258
ubiomeBacteroides sp. EBA5-17species447029increasesdecrease9.0555777.314286

Symptom: Worsening of symptoms with stress.

Another common symptom of ME/CFS

SourceTax_nametax_rankTaxonMaleFemaleMale_Chi2FeMale_Chi2
thryveThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases282.4023185.22
biomesightThermoanaerobacterales Family III. Incertae Sedisfamily543371decreaseincreases22.004548.491649
biomesightSharpeagenus519427increasesincreases17.5562512.38345
biomesightHathewayagenus1769729decreaseincreases16.9861211.70814
biomesightRhodothermalesorder1853224increasesincreases142.9353188.8704
biomesightHathewaya histolyticaspecies1498decreaseincreases16.9861211.70814
biomesightSharpea azabuensisspecies322505increasesincreases17.5562512.97965
biomesightRhodothermiaclass1853222increasesincreases142.9353188.8704
biomesightThermodesulfobacteriaphylum200940increasesincreases352.2616362.7038
biomesightAcetivibrio alkalicellulosispecies320502decreaseincreases12.658188.491649
biomesightRhodothermaeotaphylum1853220increasesincreases142.9353188.8704
biomesightAcetivibriogenus35829decreaseincreases12.658188.491649

Other Symptoms with Significant Gender Differences in patterns

  • Immune Manifestations: Abdominal Pain
  • Sleep: Unrefreshed sleep
  • Comorbid: High Anxiety
  • General: Fatigue
  • Neurological-Audio: hypersensitivity to noise
  • DePaul University Fatigue Questionnaire : Unrefreshing Sleep, that is waking up feeling tired
  • DePaul University Fatigue Questionnaire : Fatigue
  • Neurocognitive: Brain Fog
  • Neurocognitive: Problems remembering things
  • DePaul University Fatigue Questionnaire : Anxiety/tension
  • General: Myalgia (pain)
  • Immune Manifestations: Constipation
  • Post-exertional malaise: Rapid muscular fatigability,
  • Neuroendocrine Manifestations: Poor gut motility
  • Comorbid: Restless Leg
  • Comorbid: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
  • DePaul University Fatigue Questionnaire : Difficulty finding the right word
  • DePaul University Fatigue Questionnaire : Mood swings
  • DePaul University Fatigue Questionnaire : Pain in Multiple Joints without Swelling or Redness
  • Sleep: Problems falling asleep
  • Sleep: Problems staying asleep