title: Lower Bifidobacteria counts in both duodenal mucosa-associated and fecal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the composition of both fecal and duodenal mucosa-associated microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and healthy subjects using molecular-based techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fecal and duodenal mucosa brush samples were obtained from 41 IBS patients and 26 healthy subjects. Fecal samples were analyzed for the composition of the total microbiota using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and both fecal and duodenal brush samples were analyzed for the composition of bifidobacteria using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FISH analysis of fecal samples revealed a 2-fold decrease in the level of bifidobacteria (4.2 +/- 1.3 vs 8.3 +/- 1.9, P < 0.01) in IBS patients compared to healthy subjects, whereas no major differences in other bacterial groups were observed. At the species level, Bifidobacterium catenulatum levels were significantly lower (6 +/- 0.6 vs 19 +/- 2.5, P < 0.001) in the IBS patients in both fecal and duodenal brush samples than in healthy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased bifidobacteria levels in both fecal and duodenal brush samples of IBS patients compared to healthy subjects indicate a role for microbiotic composition in IBS pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht, The Netherlands. angelekerckhoffs@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Angèle P M
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kerckhoffs
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samsom
authors.forename: Michel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: van der Rest
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Vogel
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.forename: Kaouther
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ben-Amor
authors.forename: Louis M A
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Akkermans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male