Fecal Microbiota Dynamics During Disease Activity and Remission in Newly Diagnosed and Established Ulcerative Colitis
Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have an altered gut microbiota composition, but the microbial relationship to disease activity needs to be further elucidated. Therefore, temporal dynamics of the fecal microbial community during remission and flare was determined. Fecal samples were collected at 2–6 time-points from UC patients during established disease (cohort EST) and at diagnosis (cohort NEW). Sampling range for cohort EST was 3–10 months and for cohort NEW 36 months. Relapses were monitored for an additional three years for cohort EST. Microbial composition was assessed by Genetic Analysis GA-map™ Dysbiosis test, targeting ≥ 300 bacteria. Eighteen patients in cohort EST (8 with maintained remission and 10 experiencing a flare), provided 71 fecal samples. In cohort NEW, 13 patients provided 49 fecal samples. The microbial composition showed no clustering related to disease activity in any cohort. Microbial dissimilarity was higher between than within patients for both cohorts, irrespective of presence of a flare. Microbial stability within patients was constant over time with no major shift in overall composition nor modification in the abundance of any specific species. Microbial composition was not affected by intensified medical treatment or linked to future disease course. Thus in UC, the gut microbiota is highly stable irrespective of disease stage, disease activity or treatment escalation. This suggests that prolonged dietary interventions or repeated fecal transplantations are needed to be able to induce permanent alterations of the gut microbiota.
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Posted 04 Jan, 2021
Received 15 Jan, 2021
Received 15 Jan, 2021
On 14 Jan, 2021
On 14 Jan, 2021
On 14 Jan, 2021
Invitations sent on 13 Jan, 2021
On 06 Jan, 2021
On 31 Dec, 2020
On 31 Dec, 2020
On 22 Dec, 2020
Fecal Microbiota Dynamics During Disease Activity and Remission in Newly Diagnosed and Established Ulcerative Colitis
Posted 04 Jan, 2021
Received 15 Jan, 2021
Received 15 Jan, 2021
On 14 Jan, 2021
On 14 Jan, 2021
On 14 Jan, 2021
Invitations sent on 13 Jan, 2021
On 06 Jan, 2021
On 31 Dec, 2020
On 31 Dec, 2020
On 22 Dec, 2020
Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have an altered gut microbiota composition, but the microbial relationship to disease activity needs to be further elucidated. Therefore, temporal dynamics of the fecal microbial community during remission and flare was determined. Fecal samples were collected at 2–6 time-points from UC patients during established disease (cohort EST) and at diagnosis (cohort NEW). Sampling range for cohort EST was 3–10 months and for cohort NEW 36 months. Relapses were monitored for an additional three years for cohort EST. Microbial composition was assessed by Genetic Analysis GA-map™ Dysbiosis test, targeting ≥ 300 bacteria. Eighteen patients in cohort EST (8 with maintained remission and 10 experiencing a flare), provided 71 fecal samples. In cohort NEW, 13 patients provided 49 fecal samples. The microbial composition showed no clustering related to disease activity in any cohort. Microbial dissimilarity was higher between than within patients for both cohorts, irrespective of presence of a flare. Microbial stability within patients was constant over time with no major shift in overall composition nor modification in the abundance of any specific species. Microbial composition was not affected by intensified medical treatment or linked to future disease course. Thus in UC, the gut microbiota is highly stable irrespective of disease stage, disease activity or treatment escalation. This suggests that prolonged dietary interventions or repeated fecal transplantations are needed to be able to induce permanent alterations of the gut microbiota.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5