Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
10:42

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Published on: December 31, 2017

Composition of and changes in faecal microbiota in children diagnosed with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic

Esra Donmez1, Dicle Sener Okur2, Ata Umut Ozsoy3,4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Türkiye.

Frontiers in Medicine
|July 23, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in children is linked to gut bacteria imbalances. This study found differences in fecal microbiota composition in Turkish children with JIA, highlighting potential diagnostic markers.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Gut microbiota dysbiosis is implicated in autoimmune diseases like Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).
  • Specific bacterial imbalances may influence the mucosal immune system in genetically susceptible individuals.
  • Oligoarticular JIA is a common subtype requiring further understanding of its pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the fecal microbiota composition between newly diagnosed, untreated oligoarticular JIA patients and healthy children in Türkiye.
  • To identify specific bacterial taxa associated with oligoarticular JIA in a Turkish pediatric cohort.
  • To contribute to the understanding of geographical influences on gut microbiota in JIA.

Main Methods:

  • Inclusion of 25 treatment-naive oligoarticular JIA patients and 25 healthy children.
  • Targeted sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene from stool samples.
  • Analysis of bacterial composition and diversity.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in the proportions and distributions of dominant bacteria were observed.
  • The patient group exhibited a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes and a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio.
  • Specific genera (e.g., Dialister, Lactobacillus) and families (e.g., Clostridiaceae, Lactobacillaceae) showed altered abundance in JIA patients.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides novel insights into the fecal microbiota composition of oligoarticular JIA patients in Türkiye.
  • Identified bacterial shifts may serve as potential biomarkers for JIA diagnosis.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the causal relationship between microbiota alterations and JIA development.
Abstract

Keywords:
childrenjuvenil idiopathic arthritismicrobiomemicrobiota changesrheumatology

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota01:18

Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota

The human gut microbiome includes a diverse array of microbial species, including beneficial commensals and opportunistic pathogens, which interact to support host health. These microbes contribute to essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, immune system modulation, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. However, disruptions to this equilibrium—referred to as dysbiosis—can have widespread physiological consequences.Dysbiosis is often characterized by reduced microbial...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction01:17

Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction

Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
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...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...