Gut microbiomes and treatment-resistant ulcerative colitis: a case-control study using qPCR

The gut microbiome has been identified as a pivotal factor in ulcerative colitis (UC), given its role as the main reservoir of microbes in the body. This community of microorganisms, present in variable concentrations in the digestive tract, makes a wide range of beneficial roles for the host. However, the role of the gut microbiome in patients with refractory UC is still significant, so this study aimed to further investigate the role of these bacteria in patients with refractory UC.

This case-control study was conducted on stool samples from four distinct groups: the first group comprised new patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (all of them had responded to treatment after follow-up) (N = 24); the second group consisted of patients with treatment-resistant ulcerative colitis (N = 23); the third group included first-degree relatives of group 1 patients (N = 24); and the fourth group consisted of first-degree relatives of group 2 patients (N = 23). The research tools employed in this study included a questionnaire, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) test, and culture on stool samples.

The mean age of patients in groups 1 and 2 was 45.88 ± 18.51 and 41.30 ± 13.01 years, while the mean age of controls in groups 3 and 4 was 37.29 ± 9.62 and 40.96 ± 13.01 years, respectively. Stool culture results for pathogenic bacteria were negative in all four groups. The of history of consuming dairy products containing probiotics was highest in Group 1, with 22 (91.67%) subjects, while the lowest was observed in Group 3, with 16 (66.67%). The highest history of self-administered antibiotic use was observed in Group 2, with 13 cases (56.52%), while the lowest was noted in Group 3, with 4 cases (16.67%). The findings indicated a statistically significant relationship (P < 0.05) between Groups 2 and 4 with respect to the E. coli and Bifidobacterium ssp. microbial population. Additionally, a significant relationship was identified between the Lactobacillus ssp., Bifidobacterium ssp., and Bacteroides ssp. microbial community between groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05).

The findings of this study demonstrated that several intestinal microbiomes have a substantial impact on the management of ulcerative colitis. The results of this study suggest that by comparing the gut microbiome of treatment-resistant and individuals newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, we can gain a better understanding of microbiome differences that may influence treatment outcomes. The results of this study may also lead to the identification of new therapeutic strategies that are based on regulating the gut microbiome. These strategies could include the use of fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT), probiotics, prebiotics, or specific bacteria-based therapies.