Fig. 5

Markov Clustering algorithm and bacterial associations within the three study groups. As shown, control OTUs exhibit a single large super-cluster composed of 3 major clusters and several minor independent clusters. In comparison, in those who do not meet full Sjögren’s criteria (NDE), major constraints have been introduced into the network structure with the emergence of more clusters within the major super-cluster. In those who met full Sjögren’s criteria (SDE), these constraints seemed to be exacerbated, as the super-cluster stretched and expanded and new independent clusters emerged. Identities of the microbes comprising each cluster within the three groups is given in Supplementary sheet 1