Modulation of the microbiota across different intestinal segments by Rifaximin in PI-IBS mice

Rifaximin has been increasingly applied in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treatment. Whether there were differences in the effects of rifaximin on microbiota from different intestinal segments, especially the small intestine where rifaximin predominantly acted, has not been confirmed.

In this study, we used Trichinella spiralis infection to induce post infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) and measured visceral sensitivity of mice by means of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) tests to colorectal distention (CRD). We compared the effects of rifaximin on the composition of ileal, colonic mucosal and fecal microbiota in PI-IBS mice.

Rifaximin significantly reduced AWR scores and increased pain threshold in PI-IBS mice, and this effect was associated with the change in the relative abundance of ileal mucosal microbiota. Rifaximin could obviously decrease ileum mucosal microbiota alpha diversity assessed by Shannon microbial diversity index. Meanwhile, the analysis of beta diversity and relative abundance of microbiota at phylum, family and genus levels showed that rifaximin could improve the microbiota structure of ileal mucosa. However, for colonic mucosal and fecal microbiota, this effect of rifaximin was not obvious. Rifaximin could reshape the correlation of genera between different intestinal segments.

Rifaximin improved visceral hypersensitivity in PI-IBS mice. Rifaximin mainly affected ileal mucosal microbiota, and its improvement effect on IBS might be closely related to the improvement of ileal microbiota structure.