Comparative metagenomic analysis of human intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus and cartilaginous end plates

Abstract

Results of our study clearly demonstrated a similar bacterial diversity but with varying abundance between the EP and NP, suggesting the existence of the endplate-nucleus pulposus axis in the normal IVD microbiome. Further, our results have indicated that the changes in the abundance of <i>Actinobacteria</i> + <i>Firmicutes vs. Proteobacteria</i> during DDD need further investigation.