Bottom-Up Design of Prebiotics and Probiotics: An Intestinal Microbiota-Centered Approach to Chronic and Functional...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Microbiology
• Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

• Chronic constipation (CC) and functional constipation (FC) are prevalent gastrointestinal disorders impacting patient quality of life.
• Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor in constipation pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the intestinal microbiota in patients with CC and FC.
• To identify specific microbial taxa associated with constipation.
• To explore microbiota-centered therapeutic strategies for CC and FC.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of intestinal microbiota composition in CC and FC patients.
• Identification of differentially abundant bacterial taxa.
• Exploration of potential therapeutic interventions including probiotics, prebiotics, and microbial metabolites.

Main Results:

• Significant microbial imbalances observed in CC and FC patients.
• Reduced levels of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Acinetobacter, Blautia) and increased levels of potentially harmful bacteria (e.g., Alistipes, Pseudomonas).
• Dysbiosis identified as a critical factor in constipation.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of CC and FC.
• Targeted probiotic and prebiotic interventions show promise for restoring microbial balance and alleviating symptoms.
• Personalized, microbiota-centered approaches, potentially enhanced by AI, offer innovative management strategies for constipation.