Insights into microbiome research 1: How to choose appropriate controls for a microbiome study in MS?. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baranzini, Sergio E
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 24:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 1278
• Page End: 1279
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Microbiome -- multiple sclerosis; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458518788967
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Microbiome studies are on the rise, but appropriate measures must be taken into account to reduce potential confounders that could obscure results. Among these are diet, age, sex, geography, and even the presence of house pets. In the particular case of multiple sclerosis (MS), the influence of disease-modifying therapy must also be considered. Thus, selecting an appropriate group of controls can substantially increase the statistical power of a microbiome study. Furthermore, given the enormous complexity and volatility of the microbiome, this could be the deciding factor between reporting signal and simply noise.