Fig. 3

Analysis of bacterial community diversity of plasma extracellular vesicles in polycystic ovary syndrome patients before and after metformin treatment. The sequencing volume was evaluated through the Shannon index dilution curve (A), and the alpha diversity of the two groups was evaluated by box plots of the Simpson index (B), BergerParker index (C), Shannoneven index (D) and Simpsoneven index (E). The beta diversity of plasma microbial communities in each group was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) (F) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) (G). (EBF: before metformin treatment; EAF: after metformin treatment; OTU: operational taxonomic unit)