Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting 1.5 million Americans, currently has no cure. Treatments only manage symptoms of pain, fatigue, and the potential for severe organ damage.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have now identified a powerful biological connection between the gut and the disease. Publishing in Nature Communications, the team found that a depletion of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii bacteria directly correlates with the onset of lupus.
In mouse models, oral supplementation of this specific probiotic strain significantly reduced multiple disease biomarkers. The treatment effectively reset the gut’s microbiome by improving fiber digestion and boosting anti-inflammatory cells.
Crucially, the therapy protected the kidneys from immune cell attacks, a critical finding since untreated human lupus often leads to kidney failure requiring transplantation. Microbiologist Laurence Morel noted that restoring this "good" bacterium mitigated the pro-inflammatory condition caused by a lack of short-chain fatty acids.
While the results are promising, the bacterium is not found in common probiotics because it is destroyed by oxygen. Future research will focus on replicating its chemical effects in medication and investigating how dietary carbohydrates influence its protective role.