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Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine01:29

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

528
The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing
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Accelerating Gut Microbiome Research with Robust Sample Collection.

Zoe J Zreloff1, Danielle Lange1, Suzanne D Vernon1

  • 1The BioCollective, 5650 Washington Street, Unit C9, Denver CO 80216.

Research & Reviews. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
|June 30, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Optimizing human stool collection and processing is crucial for accurate gut microbiome analysis. Stool homogenization and stabilization at 4°C for 24 hours yields high-quality samples with consistent microbial diversity.

Keywords:
FecalHeterogeneousHomogeneousMicrobiomeMicrobiotaSampleStool

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Human Health
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • The gut microbiome is vital for human health, but suboptimal stool sample collection and processing methods hinder research.
  • Inferior biological material compromises data integrity, slows scientific discovery, and leads to wasted research funding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate stool sample heterogeneity and evaluate optimal handling parameters for gut microbiome analysis.
  • To establish a standardized protocol for collecting and processing human stool samples for reliable microbiome profiling.

Main Methods:

  • Collected entire bowel movements from healthy volunteers for heterogeneity and handling parameter testing.
  • Utilized 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses to characterize microbiome composition.
  • Compared microbiome profiles from different stool sections and various processing conditions (fresh, frozen, homogenized, stabilized).

Main Results:

  • Microbiome composition varied significantly based on the stool section sampled (cortex vs. core).
  • Homogenization and 4°C stabilization for 24 hours yielded superior microbial diversity compared to fresh or frozen samples.
  • Bacterial proliferation (e.g., Bacteroidetes) and diminution (e.g., Firmicutes, Proteobacteria) occurred in fresh and frozen samples during processing and storage.

Conclusions:

  • Stool microbiome profiles are section-specific, emphasizing the need for standardized sampling.
  • A collection pipeline involving homogenization and 4°C stabilization for 24 hours ensures high-quality, consistent samples for banking and analysis.
  • This optimized protocol is essential for advancing the understanding of the gut microbiome in health and disease.