Alterations in the colonic microbiota in response to osmotic diarrhea.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Diseases of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract are often accompanied by diarrhea with profound alterations in the GI microbiota termed dysbiosis. Whether dysbiosis is due to the disease itself or to the accompanying diarrhea remains elusive. With this study we characterized the net effects of osmotic diarrhea on the composition of the GI microbiota in the absence of disease.

Methods

We induced osmotic diarrhea in four healthy adults by oral administration of polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG). Stool as well as mucosa specimens were collected before, during and after diarrhea and 16S rDNA-based microbial community profiling was used to assess the microbial community structure.

Results

Stool and mucosal microbiotas were strikingly different, with Firmic

SUBMITTER: Gorkiewicz G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3568139 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature