A study on the correlation between intestinal flora characteristics and serum zinc and iron levels in paediatric patients with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Alpha diversity of intestinal flora showed no significant differences between MPP, non-MPP pneumonia, and healthy children groups.

• Three groups were compared: 30 children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP group), 30 children with non-M. pneumoniae pneumonia (NMP group), and 30 healthy children (N group)
• Alpha diversity P > 0.05 across all three groups
• Samples were collected between November 2024 and March 2025
• Analysis was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing

Beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in intestinal flora composition between the three groups.

• Beta diversity intergroup differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05)
• All three groups were dominated at the phylum level by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria
• The MPP group exhibited the lowest abundance of Firmicutes and the highest abundance of Bacteroidetes among the three groups

The MPP group showed higher abundances of specific pathogenic or opportunistic genera compared to the healthy control group.

• At the genus level, the MPP group showed higher abundances of Bacteroides, Enterococcus, and Escherichia-Shigella compared to the N group
• Prevotella and Lachnoclostridium abundances in the MPP group were higher than in both the NMP and N groups (P < 0.05)
• Enterococcus abundance in the MPP group was higher than in the N group (P < 0.05)

The NMP group exhibited higher abundances of Eubacterium, Anaerostipes, and Collinsella than both the MPP and healthy control groups.

• Eubacterium, Anaerostipes, and Collinsella were all significantly more abundant in the NMP group compared to MPP and N groups (P < 0.05)
• This pattern distinguished the NMP group's microbiome profile from both the MPP and healthy groups

Healthy children had higher abundances of Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae, and Subdoligranulum compared to both pneumonia groups.

• The N group demonstrated higher abundances of Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae, and Subdoligranulum than both the MPP and NMP groups (P < 0.05)
• These genera may be associated with a healthier gut microbiome state in children

Serum zinc and iron levels were lower in the MPP group than in both the NMP and healthy control groups.

• Blood zinc and iron levels were lower in the MPP group than in the NMP and N groups
• Trace element detection analyses were performed on serum samples from all 90 participants
• The reduction in both zinc and iron was specific to the MPP group relative to both comparison groups

Parabacteroides showed a statistically significant positive correlation with blood zinc levels in the study population.

• The correlation between Parabacteroides and blood zinc levels was statistically significant (r = 0.370, P < 0.05)
• Faecalibacterium and Blautia also showed positive associations with blood zinc and iron levels, though specific r and P values were not reported for these genera
• Findings were derived from heatmap analysis of intestinal flora correlations with clinical parameters

Escherichia-Shigella and Intestinibacter showed negative correlations with serum zinc and iron levels.

• Both Escherichia-Shigella and Intestinibacter demonstrated negative correlations with serum zinc and iron levels
• Specific r values and P values for these negative correlations were not provided in the abstract
• These genera were identified through heatmap correlation analysis of intestinal flora with clinical parameters