Gut Microbes

Background Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are widely used as functional readouts of gut microbial activity in vivo. The growing adoption of decentralised study designs and self-collection protocols has amplified the need for reliable room-temperature storage and shipment strategies. However, SCFAs volatility and the persistence of post-collection microbial metabolism raise concerns regarding pre-analytical stability and the interpretability of measured concentrations. Methods We assessed the te...

Stoma formation diverts the flow of faeces to an opening on the skin, away from a section of bowel. Stomas are used to reduce the risks of bowel surgery and their effects are thought to be temporary and benign. However, negative effects [e.g. diversion colitis (inflammation in the excluded segment), poor quality of life, and an unclear effect on homeostasis] occur. We investigated these changes and whether distal feeding (DF) - the introduction of nutrition directly into the defunctioned bowel p...

BackgroundGestational exposures may contribute to the newborns lifetime risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While gestational influences are associated with IBD onset, the causality and confounding of such exposures are difficult to ascertain. The neonatal metabolome provides a metabolic snapshot of gestational influences. ObjectiveWe tested the neonatal metabolomes ability to predict future IBD, to assess whether gestational exposures are reflected in early molecular precursors of the di...

BackgroundCrohns disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by high post-operative recurrence (POR) rates, reaching up to 90% within one year. Current clinical and endoscopic predictors show limited accuracy. ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify molecular mechanisms associated with POR at the time of surgery through integrated transcriptomic and bacteriomic analyses of ileal tissue. DesignIleal samples were obtained during surgery from 20 patie...

BackgroundAchieving deep remission, such as e.g. histo-endoscopic remission, is a key objective in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, this metric depends on invasive procedures that are impractical in routine care, whereas current non-invasive blood biomarkers demonstrate only limited correlation with disease activity. ObjectiveWe used serum metabolomics to identify blood-based signatures that comprehensively assess disease activity. DesignSerum was collected from HC (n=195), UC (n=183...

Background/ObjectivesHuman lactoferrin (hLF) is glycoprotein of commercial interest as a food ingredient for gut health. Here, we report an exploratory analysis evaluating the effects of Helaina hLF (effera(R)), produced by Komagataella phaffii, on the adult gut microbiome and fecal metabolites in comparison to bovine LF (bLF). MethodsIn a randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, controlled trial, 66 healthy adults received either high-dose (HD) effera(R) (3.4 g/day), low-dose (LD) effera(R) (0....

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that Aquamin(R), a multi-mineral extract from red marine algae, enhances barrier integrity proteins in the human colon. These findings prompted further investigation into Aquamin(R)s effects on gastrointestinal barrier function and permeability. MethodsSubjects with mild or in remission ulcerative colitis (UC) and healthy controls were enrolled in an open-label trial and received Aquamin(R) capsules (800 mg calcium/day) for 90 days. Intestinal permeabilit...

ObjectivesTo characterize ultra-processed food (UPF) circulating metabolic signatures associated with Crohns disease (CD) and to localize key metabolic mediators linking UPF intake to CD risk. DesignProspective cohort study. SettingTwo large multi-center cohorts (UK Biobank [UKB] and Whitehall II [WHII] study) across the UK and an Eastern multi-center cohort ONE-IBD Study from China. ParticipantsUK Biobank discovery cohort (n=10,229) for signature derivation, internal validation cohort (n=91,...

BackgroundPatients with cirrhosis are highly susceptible to infections due to immune dysfunction and gut barrier impairment. Non-bloodstream infections frequently trigger decompensation and mortality, yet the global distribution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in these infections is poorly characterized. MethodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting AMR in non-bloodstream bacterial infections among patients with cirrhosis. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science we...

Background and ObjectiveThe dysbiosis of human gut microbiome has been increasingly seen to have a relation in the development of autoimmune diseases, with specific microbial signatures having causative association with specific conditions. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one such autoimmune ailment. This paper proposes a predictive tool that can identify the IBD status of an individual based on the composition of the gut microbiome using machine learning and AI agents driven techniques. The...

PurposeHirschsprung-associated enterocolitis remains a major postoperative complication of Hirschsprungs disease (HD), and impaired epithelial barrier integrity has been proposed as a contributing factor. In this study, we investigated whether 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT), an endogenous leukotriene B4 receptor 2 (BLT-2) agonist, enhances the epithelial barrier and exerts anti-inflammatory effects in patient-derived colonic organoids. MethodsNormoganglionic specimens from rectal/rec...

Introduction and ObjectivesMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects about one-quarter of adults worldwide, and liver fibrosis is its strongest predictor of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Using combined in-silico screening and clinical validation, we aimed to identify circulating biomarkers associated with fibrosis progression. Fibulin-3 was identified, and its diagnostic performance was evaluated in biopsy-proven MASLD cohorts. Materials and MethodsThe GS...

BACKGROUNDEarly detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is essential for reducing disease-related mortality; however, the invasiveness and resource intensity of colonoscopy limit its widespread use in population screening. Although several non-invasive screening modalities are available, their sensitivity remains suboptimal, particularly for advanced precancerous lesions (APL). Stool-derived host RNA biomarkers represent a promising approach to improve screening performance. However, numerous techn...

Hereditary -tryptasemia (HT), defined by increased TPSAB1 copy number and elevated basal serum tryptase, is associated with mast cell (MC)-mediated symptoms, yet its role in gastrointestinal disease remains unclear. Because intestinal MCs express the non-IgE-dependent activation receptor MRGPRX2, we investigated whether MRGPRX2 expression is altered in individuals with HT and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We genotyped 854 biobanked IBD samples, performed spatial transcriptomics on descending...

Background and aimsGastrointestinal symptoms remain common in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) despite cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator use, suggesting persistent and heterogeneous gut dysfunction. This prospective observational study tests the hypothesis that distinct gut symptom phenotypes in CF can be observed and linked to underlying mechanisms. MethodsAdults from three UK CF centres completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, Patient Assessment of Cons...

BackgroundCurrent British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines misclassify metachronous lesion risk after polypectomy in approximately 40% of patients. Building on evidence that immune exclusion drives progression of adenomas to colorectal cancer, this study examined immune profiles in screen-detected adenomas as a predictive biomarker for metachronous lesion risk. MethodsPatients undergoing polypectomy within the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme, with surveillance colonoscopy between...

BackgroundPerianal Crohns disease (PCD) represents one of the most severe and refractory forms of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Constipation and colonic redundancy, particularly type 1 dolichocolon (T1-DC), may increase distal rectosigmoid pressure, and exacerbate perianal pathology. We hypothesized that T1-DC is more common in children with PCD than in those with uncomplicated ileocolonic Crohns disease (CD) or non-IBD controls. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 20 consecutive p...

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality. While early detection improves outcomes, current non-invasive tests often lack sensitivity for early-stage CRC and advanced precancerous lesions (APL). Stool-based host messenger RNA (mRNA) biomarkers offer a promising approach, though the most clinically useful candidates remain undefined. MethodsWe screened for mRNA biomarkers by first using bioinformatic analysis of tissue RNA-seq datasets to identify candidate genes w...

Plant-based dietary strategies may offer a tractable approach to mitigating microbiome disruption and improving outcomes in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) for multiple myeloma, a population in whom intestinal dysbiosis has been linked to infectious complications and inferior survival. We conducted a single-arm study to test the feasibility and biological activity of a high-fiber, plant-based, whole-food meal delivery intervention during the peri-tran...

BackgroundMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a prevalent and progressive liver disease with limited pharmacologic treatment options. Pemvidutide, a GLP-1-glucagon dual receptor agonist, has shown promise in targeting both hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemvidutide in adults with MASH. MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL through Decembe...