Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
Microbiome composition recovery after liver transplantation correlates with initial liver disease severity and
Sara Vega-Abellaneda1, Cristina Dopazo2, Francisca Yañez1
1Microbiome Lab, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
Liver transplantation (LT) is crucial for end-stage liver disease, but it is linked to infection risks. Pathobionts, microorganisms potentially harmful under specific conditions, can cause complications posttransplant. Monitoring such pathogens in fecal samples can be challenging and therefore remains underexplored post-LT. This study aimed to analyze the gut microbiome before and after LT, tracking pathobionts and correlating clinical data. The study involved 17 liver transplant recipients, 17 healthy relatives (spouses), and 13 donors. Gut samples collected pretranplantation and posttransplantation underwent bacterial and fungal profiling through DNA sequencing. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess microbial load. Statistical analyses included alpha and beta diversity measures, differential abundance analysis, and correlation tests between microbiome and clinical parameters. Microbiome analysis revealed dynamic changes in diversity posttransplant. Notably, high-severity patients showed persistent and greater dysbiosis during the first months post-LT compared with low-severity patients, partly due to an antibiotic treatment pre-LT. The analysis identified a higher proportion of pathogens such as Escherichia coli/Shigella flexneri in high-severity cases posttransplant. Furthermore, butyrate producers including Roseburia intestinalis, Anaerostipes hadrus, and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes were positively correlated with levels of albumin. This study offers valuable insights into post-LT microbiome changes, shedding light on the need for tailored prophylactic treatment post-LT.
Insights
Liver transplantation (LT) recipients experience significant gut microbiome shifts, with high-severity patients showing increased pathobionts like Escherichia coli/Shigella flexneri post-transplant. These findings highlight the need for targeted prophylactic treatments to manage post-LT infections.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Liver transplantation (LT) is vital for end-stage liver disease but carries infection risks from pathobionts.
- Monitoring gut pathobionts post-LT is challenging and underexplored.
- Gut microbiome dysbiosis can impact transplant outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze gut microbiome changes before and after LT.
- To track pathobionts and correlate them with clinical data.
- To understand the impact of disease severity and pre-LT antibiotics on the microbiome.
Main Methods:
- Collected fecal samples from LT recipients, healthy relatives, and donors pre- and post-transplant.
- Performed bacterial and fungal profiling using DNA sequencing.
- Utilized quantitative PCR for microbial load and statistical analyses for diversity and correlations.
Main Results:
- Observed dynamic changes in gut microbiome diversity post-LT.
- High-severity patients exhibited persistent dysbiosis and higher pathobiont loads (e.g., Escherichia coli/Shigella flexneri) post-transplant.
- Pre-LT antibiotic treatment influenced post-LT dysbiosis.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiome composition significantly alters after liver transplantation.
- Disease severity and prior antibiotic use are key factors in post-LT dysbiosis.
- Identifying specific pathobionts and beneficial bacteria (e.g., butyrate producers) can inform tailored prophylactic strategies.
