Duncan PhD Clinical Validation 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Identification of Dysbiosis Markers in Faeces
IRAS ID
307667
Contact name
Duncan Ewin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Can we detect biological markers (Biomarkers) of microbial disruption to the intestinal Microbiome?
Humans co-exist with a complex community of microorganisms (Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi) throughout our body; these communities are referred to as the microbiome. The microorganisms provide various functions to their host and helps the immune system to function correctly. These communities, especially those present within the human gut, are delicately balanced ecosystems developed throughout an individual’s life.
When a patient is prescribed antimicrobials, they have the potential to impact the microbiome beyond their target organism and may disrupt the balance of the microbiome. This disruption is known as dysbiosis and can put people at greater risk of colonisation with multi drug resistant organisms (MDRO), antibiotic associated diarrhoea, and is particularly associated with Clostridioides difficile infection, a major cause of infectious hospital-acquired diarrhoea.
Disruption to the microbiome can affect a variety of the complex pathways that help the body function. Changes to these functional pathways within the colon can lead to changes in abundance of certain intermediates (Metabolites). By studying the presence, absence, or abundance of certain key metabolites we can increase our understanding of what is occurring at a functional level to the microbiome and possibly identify biochemical markers for dysbiosis. These may then be potential diagnostic targets to identify intestinal dysbiosis in patients and help guide treatments to reduce the risk of colonisation or infection with MDROs and C. difficile.
We have identified some potential markers in laboratory experiments; however, it is important to validate these markers within patient samples. If we are able to identify markers from our panel of putative candidates identified in the lab, we could potentially use these to develop diagnostic tests for dysbiosis and identify potential therapeutic targets.REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0563
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion