Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Human Health

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Gut Microbiota".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 20839

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
“Agostino Gemelli” Teaching Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: fecal microbiota transplantation; Clostridium infections; microbiota; parasitology
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Co-Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: clinical microbiology; gastro-intestinal infections; FMT; parasitology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) consists of the infusion of a feces suspension obtained from a healthy donor into the intestinal tract of a recipient patient. The principle of FMT is the reconstitution of a eubiotic state in an altered intestinal bacterial community or providing potentially protective bacteria against local and systemic pathologies.

Therefore, the restoration of a eubiotic state is not only indicated in intestinal infectious diseases but also in noninfectious diseases. In fact, a normal bacterial community provides protection against an inflammatory status that may have potential systemic effects. Conversely, overexpressed bacterial communities can stimulate inflammatory processes, triggering neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, amyolateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and autism.

As evident in the literature, the potential therapeutic options are numerous when considering the capability of FMT to modulate an eventual dysbiotic status, as described in intestinal bowel diseases, cardiovascular diseases, immunity disorders, epathic encephalopaty, psychiatric conditions, and others.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide current and thoughtful scientific evidence of the clinical impact of FMT on human health.

Thus, we especially welcome interventional and observational studies aiming at improving the knowledge of FMT’s effects on systemic health and of its use for the treatment of local and systemic diseases. Review studies, including those that use conceptual frameworks for any of the aforementioned topics, will also be welcomed.

Dr. Luca Masucci
Dr. Gianluca Quaranta
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • laboratory activity and innovation
  • gut microbiota manipulation
  • immunity
  • basic research
  • translational research
  • systematic
  • review

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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2 pages, 193 KiB  
Editorial
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: What’s New?
by Luca Masucci and Gianluca Quaranta
Microorganisms 2022, 10(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10010023 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2304
Abstract
The gut microbiota is composed of trillions of different microorganisms: bacteria, archaea, phages and protozoa, which represent a real solid organ, with an approximate weight of 2 kg [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Human Health)
11 pages, 1074 KiB  
Article
Validation of Two Commercial Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assays for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Stool Donors for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
by Vincenzo Di Pilato, Fabio Morecchiato, Cosmeri Rizzato, Gianluca Quaranta, Roberta Fais, Claudia Gandolfo, Alberto Antonelli, Maria Grazia Cusi, Mauro Pistello, Gian Maria Rossolini, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Antonella Lupetti and Luca Masucci
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020284 - 26 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3673
Abstract
Recurrent infection by Clostridioides difficile has recently been treated by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). As viable SARS-CoV-2 was recovered from stool of asymptomatic individuals, the FMT procedure could be a potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, thus underlying the need to reliably detect SARS-CoV-2 [...] Read more.
Recurrent infection by Clostridioides difficile has recently been treated by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). As viable SARS-CoV-2 was recovered from stool of asymptomatic individuals, the FMT procedure could be a potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, thus underlying the need to reliably detect SARS-CoV-2 in stool. Here, we performed a multicentric study to explore performances of two commercially available assays for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool of potential FMT donors. In three hospitals, 180 stool samples were spiked with serial 10-fold dilutions of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated lysate to evaluate the Seegene Allplex™ SARS-CoV-2 (SC2) and SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV (SC2FABR) Assays for the detection of viral RNA in stool of FMT donors. The results revealed that both assays detected down to 2 TCID50/mL with comparable limit of detection values, SC2 showing more consistent target positivity rate than SC2FABR. Beyond high amplification efficiency, correlation between CT values and log concentrations of inactivated viral lysates showed R2 values ranging from 0.88 to 0.90 and from 0.87 to 0.91 for the SC2 and SC2FABR assay, respectively. The present results demonstrate that both methods are highly reproducible, sensitive, and accurate for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in stool, suggesting a potential use in FMT-donor screening. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Human Health)
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16 pages, 2711 KiB  
Article
Fecal Filobasidium Is Associated with Clinical Remission and Endoscopic Response following Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis
by Isabelle A. M. van Thiel, Shafaque Rahman, Theodorus B. M. Hakvoort, Mark Davids, Caroline Verseijden, Patricia H. P. van Hamersveld, Mèlanie V. Bénard, Maarten H. Lodders, Teun Boekhout, René M. van den Wijngaard, Sigrid E. M. Heinsbroek, Cyriel Y. Ponsioen and Wouter J. de Jonge
Microorganisms 2022, 10(4), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10040737 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2962
Abstract
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has the potential to restore (bacterial and fungal) microbial imbalance in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and contribute to disease remission. Here, we aimed to identify fecal fungal species associated with the induction of clinical remission and endoscopic response to [...] Read more.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has the potential to restore (bacterial and fungal) microbial imbalance in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and contribute to disease remission. Here, we aimed to identify fecal fungal species associated with the induction of clinical remission and endoscopic response to FMT for patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. We analyzed the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)-based mycobiota composition in fecal samples from patients (n = 31) and donors (n = 7) that participated previously in a double-blinded randomized control trial evaluating the efficacy of two infusions of donor FMT compared with autologous FMT. The abundance of the yeast genus Filobasidium in fecal material used for transplantation was shown to correlate with clinical remission following FMT, irrespective of its presence in the material of donor or autologous fecal microbiota transfer. The amplified sequence variants within the genus Filobasidium most closely resembled Filobasidium magnum. Monocyte-derived macrophages and HT29 epithelial cells were stimulated with fungal species. Especially Filobasidium floriforme elicited an IL10 response in monocyte-derived macrophages, along with secretion of other cytokines following stimulation with other Filobasidium species. No effect of Filobasidium spp. was seen on epithelial wound healing in scratch assays. In conclusion, the enriched presence of Filobasidium spp. in donor feces is associated with the positive response to FMT for patients with UC and hence it may serve as a predictive fungal biomarker for successful FMT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Human Health)
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10 pages, 489 KiB  
Review
Microbiota Transplantation in an Antibiotic-Induced Bacterial Depletion Mouse Model: Reproducible Establishment, Analysis, and Application
by Lijun Shang, Jiayu Tu, Ziqi Dai, Xiangfang Zeng and Shiyan Qiao
Microorganisms 2022, 10(5), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10050902 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2946
Abstract
The fecal bacteria transplantation (FMT) technique is indispensable when exploring the pathogenesis and potential treatments for microbiota-related diseases. For FMT clinical treatments, there are already systematic guidelines for donor selection, fecal bacterial separation, FMT frequency, and infusion methods. However, only a few studies [...] Read more.
The fecal bacteria transplantation (FMT) technique is indispensable when exploring the pathogenesis and potential treatments for microbiota-related diseases. For FMT clinical treatments, there are already systematic guidelines for donor selection, fecal bacterial separation, FMT frequency, and infusion methods. However, only a few studies have demonstrated the use of standardized FMT procedures for animal models used in theoretical research, creating difficulties for many new researchers in this field. In the present paper, we provide a brief overview of FMT and discuss its contribution to the current understanding of disease mechanisms that relate to microbiota. This protocol can be used to generate a commonly used FMT mouse model and provides a literature reference of customizable steps. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Human Health)
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22 pages, 1423 KiB  
Review
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Other Gut Microbiota Manipulation Strategies
by Gianluca Quaranta, Alessandra Guarnaccia, Giovanni Fancello, Chiara Agrillo, Federica Iannarelli, Maurizio Sanguinetti and Luca Masucci
Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2424; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122424 - 7 Dec 2022
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3731
Abstract
The gut microbiota is composed of bacteria, archaea, phages, and protozoa. It is now well known that their mutual interactions and metabolism influence host organism pathophysiology. Over the years, there has been growing interest in the composition of the gut microbiota and intervention [...] Read more.
The gut microbiota is composed of bacteria, archaea, phages, and protozoa. It is now well known that their mutual interactions and metabolism influence host organism pathophysiology. Over the years, there has been growing interest in the composition of the gut microbiota and intervention strategies in order to modulate it. Characterizing the gut microbial populations represents the first step to clarifying the impact on the health/illness equilibrium, and then developing potential tools suited for each clinical disorder. In this review, we discuss the current gut microbiota manipulation strategies available and their clinical applications in personalized medicine. Among them, FMT represents the most widely explored therapeutic tools as recent guidelines and standardization protocols, not only for intestinal disorders. On the other hand, the use of prebiotics and probiotics has evidence of encouraging findings on their safety, patient compliance, and inter-individual effectiveness. In recent years, avant-garde approaches have emerged, including engineered bacterial strains, phage therapy, and genome editing (CRISPR-Cas9), which require further investigation through clinical trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Human Health)
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18 pages, 709 KiB  
Review
Intestinal IgA-Coated Bacteria in Healthy- and Altered-Microbiomes (Dysbiosis) and Predictive Value in Successful Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
by Herbert L. DuPont, Zhi-Dong Jiang, Ashley S. Alexander, Andrew W. DuPont and Eric L. Brown
Microorganisms 2023, 11(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11010093 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3689
Abstract
IgA-coated bacteria in the gut (IgA-biome) provide a homeostatic function in healthy people through inhibition of microbial invaders and by protecting the epithelial monolayer of the gut. The laboratory methods used to detect this group of bacteria require flow cytometry and DNA sequencing [...] Read more.
IgA-coated bacteria in the gut (IgA-biome) provide a homeostatic function in healthy people through inhibition of microbial invaders and by protecting the epithelial monolayer of the gut. The laboratory methods used to detect this group of bacteria require flow cytometry and DNA sequencing (IgA-Seq). With dysbiosis (reduced diversity of the microbiome), the IgA-biome also is impaired. In the presence of enteric infection, oral vaccines, or an intestinal inflammatory disorder, the IgA-biome focuses on the pathogenic bacteria or foreign antigens, while in other chronic diseases associated with dysbiosis, the IgA-biome is reduced in capacity. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the use of fecal product from well-screened, healthy donors administered to patients with dysbiosis, has been successful in engrafting the intestine with healthy microbiota and metabolites leading to improve health. Through FMT, IgA-coated bacteria have been transferred to recipients retaining their immune coating. The IgA-biome should be evaluated in FMT studies as these mucosal-associated bacteria are more likely to be associated with successful transplantation than free luminal organisms. Studies of the microbiome pre- and post-FMT should employ metagenomic methods that identify bacteria at least at the species level to better identify organisms of interest while allowing comparisons of microbiota data between studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Human Health)
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