20Background: As the gut microbiome is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of colorectal 21 carcinoma (CRC) and affected by the diet and the genetic composition, we sought to investigate 22 the patterns of gut microbiota that associate with CRC in a South Asian cohort of patients with 23 CRC. 24 Methodology: The relative abundance of 45 types of gut microbial species were determined in 25 faecal samples of CRC patients (n=24), DM (n=20) and healthy age matched controls (n=44), 26 using a PCR array. Data was analyzed using the specific software for analysis of bacterial DNA 27 quantification. 28 Results: The species Bacteroides fragilis (23.9-fold), Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (8-fold) and 29 Akkermansia muciniphila (5.9 fold) were several-fold over expressed in patients with CRC 30 compared to healthy individuals, whereas bacterial species of the Phylum Proteobactria were under 31 expressed. There was no difference in the abundance of these 3 species of bacteria with tumour 32 stage or gender and age of patients. Aeromonas species, Enterococcus faecium and Shigella 33 dysenteriae (Proteobacteria) were over 100-fold over abundant in those with DM compared to 34 healthy individuals. Although 70.83% of those with CRC also had diabetes, the relative abundance 35 of microbiota in CRC patients were different to those who had diabetes and no CRC.36 Conclusions: Patients with CRC and DM harbor a markedly different gut microbiota patterns 37 compared to their healthy counterparts. Similar patterns of gut microbial dysbiosis that associate 38 with CRC and DM appear be seen in South Asian populations, compared to Western countries, 39 despite differences in the diet and ethnicity.40 3 41 Background 42Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third commonest cause of cancer worldwide and is the fourth 43 commonest cancer leading to death [1]. It has been predicted that the deaths due to colonic cancer 44 and rectal cancer will increase by 60% and 71.5%, respectively until year 2035 due to the increase 45 in the aging population [1]. The increase in the incidence of CRC is predicted to rise substantially 46 more in developing countries vs developed countries due to these changes in population 47 56 positive E.coli, enterotoxigenic Bacteriodes fragilis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus 57 gallolyticus [8-12]. While some of these microbes were overabundant in the gut microbiome of 58 patients with CRC, some have been detected specifically in tumor tissue and also in distance 59 metastasis, suggesting that they may play a role in the pathogenesis of this cancer [12]. They are 60 thought predispose to the development of CRC by inducing epigenetic changes and thereby 61 affecting gene transcription, inducing DNA damage and reactive oxygen species and by inducing 62 procarcinogenic cytokines [12]. 4 63 Of the factors that affect the diversity of the gut microbiome, the diet plays a central role. Although 64 the relative abundance of gut microbiota depends on an individual's genetic composition (12%), 65