{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T05:06:08Z","timestamp":1779944768722,"version":"3.53.1"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779926400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Myopia is a common refractive disorder in adolescents, and its association with the gut microbiota remains incompletely defined.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We performed 16S rRNA sequencing on fecal samples from 102 adolescents (49 myopic, 53 non-myopic; aged 6\u201318 years) and analyzed microbial diversity, taxonomy, function, and random forest-based classification, stratified by sex<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Myopic adolescents showed lower gut microbial richness (observed and Chao1, both P &amp;lt; 0.05) than non-myopic controls, but overall community structure did not differ. Sex-stratified analyses revealed that these diversity reductions occurred only in myopic males (all \u03b1-diversity indices, P &amp;lt; 0.01), not in females. Several genera differed between myopic and non-myopic males (e.g., lower Akkermansia, Alistipes, Oscillibacter; higher Veillonella, Sutterella), whereas fewer differences were found in females. Functional predictions indicated altered metabolism and immune pathways. A random forest model achieved moderate overall accuracy (AUC = 76.84%), with higher performance in males (89.13%) than females (69.21%).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Adolescent myopia is associated with reduced gut microbial richness and sex-specific compositional changes, particularly in males, underscoring the importance of sex in gut\u2013eye axis research.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1778840","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T04:49:39Z","timestamp":1779943779000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Sex-specific associations between gut microbiota and myopia in adolescents: a clinical predictive modeling study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Zichen","family":"Luan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin Eye Institute","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yucui","family":"Zheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Eco-city Hospital of Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ning","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin Eye Institute","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yamin","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin Eye Institute","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shumeng","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin Eye Institute","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guiyu","family":"Ren","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin Eye Institute","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fuming","family":"Kong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Eco-city Hospital of Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dianhuan","family":"Ju","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Eco-city Hospital of Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rui","family":"Hao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin Eye Institute","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Eye Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.diabres.2025.113043","article-title":"Differential gut microbiome profiles in diabetic retinopathy: a comparative study across continental populations","volume":"231","author":"Adhikary","year":"2026","journal-title":"Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aopr.2024.06.003","article-title":"Complications of high myopia: an update from clinical manifestations to underlying mechanisms","volume":"4","author":"Du","year":"2024","journal-title":"Adv. Ophthalmol. Pract. Res."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2023.1225859","article-title":"Gut microbiota and eye diseases: a bibliometric study and visualization analysis","volume":"13","author":"Fu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17142363","article-title":"Systemic and retinal protective effects of butyrate in early type 2 diabetes via gut microbiota\u2013lipid metabolism interaction","volume":"17","author":"Gong","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39636","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-23265-8","article-title":"Integrative multi-omics identifies coordinated alterations in the gut microbiome and in plasma and aqueous humor metabolomes in high myopic cataract","volume":"15","author":"Gu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12928","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-97722-9","article-title":"The causal impact of gut microbiota and metabolites on myopia and pathological myopia: a mediation mendelian randomization study","volume":"15","author":"Hui","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1038\/s41579-024-01106-1","article-title":"Akkermansia muciniphila: biology, microbial ecology, host interactions and therapeutic potential","volume":"23","author":"Ioannou","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tim.2020.02.018","article-title":"Sutterella species, IgA-degrading bacteria in ulcerative colitis","volume":"28","author":"Kaakoush","year":"2020","journal-title":"Trends Microbiol."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.66.7.6","article-title":"Childhood myopia part I: contemporary treatment options","volume":"66","author":"Khanal","year":"2025","journal-title":"Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.preteyeres.2024.101250","article-title":"How gut microbiota may impact ocular surface homeostasis and related disorders","volume":"100","author":"Labetoulle","year":"2024","journal-title":"Prog. Retin. Eye Res."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1038\/s41421-024-00709-5","article-title":"Gut microbiota-derived indole-3-acetic acid suppresses high myopia progression by promoting type I collagen synthesis","volume":"10","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cell. Discov."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"582","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-022-05181-3","article-title":"Identification of trypsin-degrading commensals in the large intestine","volume":"609","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1007\/s13167-023-00321-9","article-title":"Clarifying the effect of gut microbiota on allergic conjunctivitis risk is instrumental for predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine: a mendelian randomization analysis","volume":"14","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"EPMA J."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.xops.2024.100684","article-title":"Causal links between gut microbiota, blood metabolites, immune cells, inflammatory proteins, and myopia: a mendelian randomization study","volume":"5","author":"Lv","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ophthalmol. Sci."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1084","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1233521","article-title":"Sex differences in the gut microbiome drive hormone-dependent regulation of autoimmunity","volume":"339","author":"Markle","year":"2013","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1562","DOI":"10.1038\/s41433-025-03715-3","article-title":"Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a gut microbiota-eye axis in acute anterior uveitis","volume":"39","author":"Mi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eye"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.65.5.2","article-title":"Gut microbiota profiles in myopes and nonmyopes","volume":"65","author":"Omar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms13010090","article-title":"Shattering the amyloid illusion: the microbial enigma of Alzheimer\u2019s disease pathogenesis\u2014from gut microbiota and viruses to brain biofilms","volume":"13","author":"Onisiforou","year":"2025","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chom.2023.12.013","article-title":"Linking microbial genes to plasma and stool metabolites uncovers host-microbial interactions underlying disease course of ulcerative colitis","volume":"32","author":"Schirmer","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cell Host Microbe"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exer.2024.110067","article-title":"Study on the relationship between adolescent myopia and gut microbiota via 16S rRNA sequencing","volume":"247","author":"Sun","year":"2024","journal-title":"Exp. Eye Res."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yfrne.2021.100912","article-title":"How biological sex of the host shapes its gut microbiota","volume":"61","author":"Valeri","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Neuroendocrinol."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1217","DOI":"10.1038\/s41587-019-0233-9","article-title":"Blood metabolome predicts gut microbiome \u03b1-diversity in humans","volume":"37","author":"Wilmanski","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat. Biotechnol."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo-2022-322773","article-title":"Risk factors for myopia among children and adolescents: an umbrella review of published meta-analyses and systematic reviews","volume":"108","author":"Ying","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1007\/s12016-025-09094-7","article-title":"Inflammation and immune pathways in myopia: an overview on pathomechanisms and treatment prospects","volume":"68","author":"Zhang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clin. Rev. Allergy Immunol."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.preteyeres.2022.101117","article-title":"The role of the gut microbiome in eye diseases","volume":"92","author":"Zysset-Burri","year":"2023","journal-title":"Prog. Retin. Eye Res."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1778840\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T04:49:48Z","timestamp":1779943788000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1778840\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"references-count":25,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1778840"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1778840","relation":{},"ISSN":["2235-2988"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2235-2988","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"article-number":"1778840"}}