Abstract
ABSTRACTFecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has received increased attention as a therapy for correcting intestinal dysbiosis and restoring a state of health in patients suffering from either recalcitrant infection by Clostridium difficile or more complex disease states, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The “gut microbial organ” from the donor that is used in these transplants may serve to transfer genetic material between donor and recipient via virus-like particles, specifically bacteriophages, that infect the bacterial component of the microbiota. The recently published study by Chehoud et al. provides evidence for not only the transfer of bacteriophages during FMT but also the transfer of multiple populations of bacteriophages to recipients from the donor microbiota used (C. Chehoud et al., mBio 7:e00322-16, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00322-16). While the clinical significance of these findings remains unclear, nothing short of a diligent and persistent effort is needed to define the intended and unintended consequences of FMT.
Highlights
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which was first alluded to in the 4th century in China, is the transfer of a donor’s gut microbiota to a recipient with the intent of correcting intestinal dysbiosis and restoring states of health (1, 2)
The study by Chehoud et al is a step in that direction, by providing evidence that one major component of FMT, bacteriophages, is readily transferred to recipients from the donor microbiota (10)
This study looked at a single healthy adult donor and three pediatric ulcerative colitis recipient patients who received 22 to 30 FMT treatments over the course of 6 to 12 weeks
Summary
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which was first alluded to in the 4th century in China, is the transfer of a donor’s gut microbiota to a recipient with the intent of correcting intestinal dysbiosis and restoring states of health (1, 2). The study by Chehoud et al is a step in that direction, by providing evidence that one major component of FMT, bacteriophages, is readily transferred to recipients from the donor microbiota (10). Those authors detected elements associated with multiple donor viruses in the same recipient sample.
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