Abstract：In this study, feces from 19 cases of major depressive disorder (MDD) and 20 healthy individuals were collected for 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, in order to investigate the gut microbiota profile of depression and whether gut microbiota can be a predictor of depression. Participants' assessment scores for PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were analysed in relation to the difference microbiota between the two groups. No significant difference in alpha diversity in depressed compared to healthy individuals. Differential species analysis revealed a significant enrichment in the depression group for six signature microorganisms Finegoldia, Lactiaseibacillus, Enterobacterales, Enterobacteriaceae, Fusicatenilbacter, and Closteridia. Significant enrichment of Coprococcus in the healthy group was significantly and negatively correlated with levels of depression and anxiety. The structure and composition of the gut flora of patients with depression were resolved based on high-throughput sequencing of gut microbial 16SrRNA, and provided potential microbial markers for the alleviation of clinical symptoms of depression in this study.
