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IBD Southampton research study News

The bacteria in the gut of children with inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) are of great interest in discovering what causes the disease

Published: 12 July 2017

This study analyses the microbiome (bacteria) in faeces (poo) during treatment of newly diagnosed PIBD patients and compares to siblings where possible.

Six PIBD patients were included, 3 patients had an unaffected healthy sibling recruited. Bacterial diversity (number of different bacteria) was reduced in treatment-naïve patients compared to siblings and patients in remission. There were bacterial changes in CD over the treatment course. In treatment-naïve PIBD, there was reduction in the ability of bacteria to perform normal metabolic functions (they were unable to do all the normal things bacteria in the gut do) compared to controls and patients in remission. Metabolic function returned to normal after remission was achieved. This study adds in-depth 1 analysis on a small cohort.

It highlights the initial dysbiosis, reduced diversity, altered functional potential, and subsequent shifts in bacteria from diagnosis over time to remission.

16S sequencing and functional analysis of the fecal microbiome during treatment of newly diagnosed pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, JJ Ashton, et al, Medicine: June 2017 - Volume 96 - Issue 26 - p e7347. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007347

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