Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Injections of Lipopolysaccharide into Mice to Mimic Entrance of Microbial-derived Products After Intestinal Barrier Breach
Published on: May 2, 2018
Gut Microbiota Perturbation Are Linked to Endoscopic Severity of Diverticular Disease
Antonio Tursi1, Giorgia Procaccianti2, Silvia Turroni3
1Territorial Gastroenterology Service, Barletta-Andria-Trani Local Health Agency, Andria (BT); Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, School of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. antotursi@tiscali.it.
Background And Aims:
It is not known whether the gut microbiota (GM) may vary according to the endoscopic severity of diverticular disease (DD). We aimed to profile the GM in DD patients according to the severity of the diverticular inflammation and complication assessment (DICA) classification (DICA 1 vs. DICA 2 vs. DICA 3).
Methods:
We retrospectively assessed the GM in a population of patients with DD. We analyzed stool samples collected by fecal swab for microbiological studies. Among them, we identified DD patients in whom DD was scored according to DICA classification. The severity of the abdominal pain was measured using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results:
The GM of 71 DD patients [49 (69.0%) were scored as DICA1, 18 (25.4%) as DICA2, and 4 (5.6%) as DICA3 was analysed. The three groups did not differ in alpha diversity, but significantly separated in the PCoA of beta diversity (p=0.018). Taxonomically, DICA1 group was characterized by higher relative abundances of the phylum Actinobacteriota, the families Erysipelatoclostridiaceae and Bacteroidaceae, and the genera Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group and Bacteroides (p≤0.1); DICA2 group was mainly discriminated by higher proportions of Streptococcaceae (p=0.018); DICA3 group was mainly discriminated by the phylum Bacteroidota, the families Prevotellaceae and Succinivibrionaceae, and the genera Prevotella, Alloprevotella and Dialister (p≤0.045). Stratifiyng patients by abdominal pain severity, only for the DICA2 group the PCoA of beta diversity showed a significant separation between the moderate and severe groups (p=0.024), with the latter also showing higher alpha diversity (p=0.05). Taxonomically, the severe group was enriched in the families Enterobacteriaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, and the genera Megasphaera and Veillonella, while depleted in Sutterellaceae and Blautia compared to the moderate group (p≤0.08).
Conclusions:
GM in DD may vary according to endoscopic disease severity and clinical characteristics. Such associations may improve patient stratification and clinical management.
Insights
The gut microbiota composition in diverticular disease (DD) varies with endoscopic severity. These variations in gut bacteria may help stratify patients and guide clinical management for DD.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiome Research
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Diverticula disease (DD) affects a significant portion of the population, with varying degrees of severity.
- The role of the gut microbiota (GM) in the pathogenesis and progression of DD is not fully understood.
- Endoscopic assessment provides a standardized method for classifying DD severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential variations in the gut microbiota (GM) of patients with diverticular disease (DD).
- To correlate GM profiles with the endoscopic severity of DD, as defined by the diverticular inflammation and complication assessment (DICA) classification.
- To explore associations between GM composition, DD severity, and clinical characteristics like abdominal pain.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of gut microbiota (GM) composition in 71 patients with diverticular disease (DD).
- Stool samples were analyzed using microbiological techniques.
- Patients were classified into DICA 1, DICA 2, and DICA 3 based on endoscopic findings.
- Abdominal pain severity was quantified using a visual analogue scale (VAS).
Main Results:
- Gut microbiota (GM) composition differed significantly between DICA severity groups, particularly in beta diversity.
- Specific bacterial taxa, including Actinobacteriota, Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Prevotellaceae, were associated with different DICA scores.
- In DICA 2 patients, increased abdominal pain severity correlated with distinct GM profiles and higher alpha diversity, showing enrichment in Enterobacteriaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota (GM) composition is associated with endoscopic disease severity in diverticular disease (DD).
- Distinct microbial signatures correlate with specific DICA classifications and clinical presentations.
- These findings suggest that GM profiling could aid in patient stratification and inform clinical management strategies for DD.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD: