ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The intestinal microbiota has been implicated in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Due to the variable resolutions of techniques used to characterize the intestinal microbiota, and the heterogeneity of IBS, the defined alterations of the IBS intestinal microbiota are inconsistent. We analyzed the composition of the intestinal microbiota in a defined subgroup of IBS patients (diarrhea-predominant IBS, D-IBS) using a technique that provides the deepest characterization available for complex microbial communities. METHODS: Fecal DNA was isolated from 23 D-IBS patients and 23 healthy controls (HC). Variable regions V1-V3 and V6 of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified from all samples. PCR products were sequenced using 454 high throughput sequencing. The composition, diversity and richness of microbial communities were determined and compared between D-IBS and HC using the quantitative insights into microbial ecology pipeline. KEY RESULTS: The contribution of bacterial groups to the composition of the intestinal microbiota differed between D-IBS and HC. D-IBS patients had significantly higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.03), and lower levels of Fecalibacterium genera (P = 0.04) compared to HC. ß-Diversity values demonstrated significantly lower levels of UniFrac distances in HC compared to D-IBS patients. The richness of 16S rRNA sequences was significantly decreased in D-IBS patients (P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Our 16S rRNA sequence data demonstrates a community-level dysbiosis in D-IBS. The altered composition of the intestinal microbiota in D-IBS is associated with significant increases in detrimental and decreases in beneficial bacterial groups, and a reduction in microbial richness.
Subject(s)
Diarrhea/microbiology , Feces/microbiology , Intestines/microbiology , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/microbiology , Metagenome/genetics , Adult , Aged , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Diarrhea/genetics , Feces/chemistry , Female , Humans , Intestines/chemistry , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/genetics , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
All those concerned with the welfare of sick children, both in hospital and in the community, have an important birthday to celebrate this year. NAWCH, an independent voluntary organisation, was started 30 years ago as a partnership between parents and professionals who were committed to improving the welfare of children in hospital. In the early 60s little emphasis was placed on the emotional needs of sick children and many hospitals restricted parental visiting to a few hours a week.
