Long-term storage of faecal samples
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Long-term storage of donor faecal samples for use in an in vitro gut model.
IRAS ID
206781
Contact name
Anthony Buckley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and a common hospital acquired infection. Symptoms range from mild infection to severe and life-threatening disease. Antibiotics are recommended even for mild cases of C. difficile infection (CDI). However, it is estimated that up to 32% of cases recur within 8 weeks after treatment of the initial episode and rates of further recurrence can reach 65% after the first relapse. It is know that the microflora plays a role in preventing CDI and many treatments based on faecal transplant therapy are being investigated.
We have a triple chemostat gut model of the human intestine that we use to model CDI in humans. This model is seeded with a faecal slurry made from the faeces of healthy donors (aged 60 and above), from which the resident microorganisms grow to mimic levels seen within the intestine. The conditions used in the model are NOT conducive for mammalian cell maintenance or growth. Previously we have processed faecal samples from donors within a week, which removes any mammalian cells present. However, deeper analysis of the bacterial results between experiments has proven difficult due to the differences in the faecal material provided by the donors, even when the same donors are used.
This study will use pooled faecal samples from a larger cohort of anonymous donors to create faecal slurry and to store this slurry at -80°C for a succession of gut model experiments. The aim of this will be for greater consistency between experiments. The samples will be kept for no more than 2 years in storage, donor samples will be completely anonymous, and no donor data kept. Only the microorganisms in these samples are of interest to our research and no effort will be made to isolate mammalian cells from the samples.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0263
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion