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Unveiling the gut microbiota composition and functionality associated with constipation through metagenomic analyses.

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Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiome Research
  • Metagenomics

Background:

  • Functional constipation (FC) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder with unknown multifactorial causes.
  • Alterations in gut microbiota composition are increasingly implicated in constipation, but findings are inconsistent.
  • A clear link between FC and specific gut microbial profiles remains to be established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differences in gut microbiota composition and metabolic functions between individuals with functional constipation and healthy subjects.
  • To identify specific bacterial taxa and metabolic pathways associated with functional constipation.

Main Methods:

  • 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for microbial profiling of 147 stool samples (68 FC, 79 healthy subjects).
  • Shotgun metagenomics was performed on a subset of samples (5 FC, 5 HS) to evaluate microbiome metabolic capabilities.
  • Comparative analysis was conducted to identify differences in bacterial abundance and gene pathways.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with FC exhibited a depletion of bacteria from the genera Bacteroides, Roseburia, and Coprococcus compared to healthy subjects.
  • Metagenomic analysis revealed that healthy subjects had enriched pathways for carbohydrate, fatty acid, and lipid metabolism.
  • FC microbiomes showed increased abundance of genes related to hydrogen production, methanogenesis, and glycerol degradation.

Conclusions:

  • Significant differences in gut microbiota composition and metabolic functions exist between FC patients and healthy individuals.
  • The identified microbial and metabolic alterations may contribute to the development and symptoms of functional constipation.
  • Further research into the gut microbiome's role could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for FC.