Distinct Ocular Surface Microbiome in Keratoconus Patients Correlate With Local Immune Dysregulation.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Keratoconus (KC) is characterized by irregular astigmatism along with corneal stromal weakness and is associated with altered immune status. Tissue resident microbiomes are known to influence the immune status in other organs, but such a nexus has not been described in ocular conditions. Therefore, we examined the ocular surface microbiome of patients with KC and correlated it to the immune cell and tear molecular factor profiles.

Methods

Sixty-two patients with KC and 21 healthy controls underwent corneal topography analysis and eye examination followed by a collection of Schirmer's strip, ocular surface wash, and ocular surface swabs. Microbiomes were analyzed by extracting DNA from the swabs followed by 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 amplicon sequencing and analyzed using QI

SUBMITTER: Kumar NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11771523 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature