Characteristics of Faecal Microbiota in Korean Patients withClostridioides difficile-associated Diarrhea

Abstract

BackgroundThe intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, and regional and racial characteristics influence the microbiome composition and diversity. We investigated the intestinal microbiome characteristics of patients with C. difficile colitis (CD+) compared to those of patients with colitis not due to C. difficile (CD−), patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) colonization, and healthy controls, in Korea.Materials and MethodsWe collected stool samples from 24, 18, 11 and 13 subjects within CD+, CD−, VRE and healthy control groups, respectively. The microbial communities were evaluated by 454-pyrosequencing of bacterial 16s rRNA.ResultsThe species richness and microbial diversity were significantly lower in the CD+ group compared to those in healthy controls, but not compared to those in CD− and VRE groups. Phylum-level analysis showed that the proportion of Actinobacteria in the CD+ group was significantly lower than in the healthy control, but was unchanged compared to that in CD− and VRE groups. At the genus level, compared to the healthy group, the CD+ group showed significantly lower proportions of Blautia, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium et al. Compared to the VRE group, the CD+ group showed a significantly higher proportion of Anaerostipes.ConclusionsWe could identify the intestinal microbiome characteristics of Koreans with C. difficile colitis. It might help to develop microbiome based diagnostic and treatment modalities.

Gut Microbiota Composition Associated with Clostridioides difficile Colonization and Infection

“…The prevalence of the phylum Proteobacteria is increased in adults with CDI [ 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 66 ]. The main family responsible for this increase is Enterobacteriaceae [ 62 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ], and the main genera exhibiting increases are Klebsiella spp.…”

“…The main family responsible for this increase is Enterobacteriaceae [ 62 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ], and the main genera exhibiting increases are Klebsiella spp. [ 56 , 61 , 62 , 66 , 70 ], Escherichia / Shigella [ 56 , 61 , 64 , 66 , 69 , 70 , 71 ], Proteus spp. [ 56 , 66 ] and Providencia spp.…”

“…The main families responsible for this decrease are Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae [ 54 , 56 , 62 , 66 , 67 , 72 ], and the main genera are Blautia spp. [ 54 , 61 , 64 , 66 , 70 , 73 , 74 ], Roseburia spp. [ 54 , 61 , 64 , 66 , 74 ], Anaerostipes spp.…”

“…Metabolization of PBAs to SBAs is provided by populations from the Firmicutes phylum: Ruminococcaceae , Blautia and Lachnospiraceae [ 20 , 75 ]. The decreases in Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae also lead to decreases in the concentration of SCFA and the transformation of SBAs from PBAs, providing advantages to these bacteria [ 20 , 56 , 62 , 64 , 67 ]. If the abundances of these bacterial groups decrease, there is a decrease in SBAs and therefore a decrease in the inhibition of germination in the ileum.…”

“…Regarding the phylum Bacteroidetes, some studies showed a general decrease in abundance [ 61 , 62 , 67 ] while others showed an increase [ 64 , 68 ]. Depending on the studies, the abundance of the genus Bacteroides spp.…”