Competitively Selected Donor Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Butyrate Concentration and Diversity as Measures of Donor Quality

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2018 Aug;67(2):185-187. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001940.

Abstract

In this prospective cohort study, we examine the feasibility of a protocol to optimize microbiota for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Donor stool metrics generally accepted as markers of gut health were used to select a stool donor based on superior microbial diversity, balanced constitution of Bacteroidetes versus Firmicutes and high concentration of fecal butyrate. Selected donor microbiota was then administered via FMT. A total of 10 patients with median age of 12 years with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection received the intervention. The rate of recurrence-free resolution with 1-2 FMTs was 100% at Week 10. With a single FMT, 80% of patients cleared Clostridium difficile infection without recurrence, whereas 20% of patients required a single re-treatment. No serious adverse events occurred. Microbiota sequencing revealed that recipients' gut microbiota phylogenic diversity increased by 72-hours post-transplantation, with sustainment over 10-week follow-up. This study highlights the feasibility of purposefully selecting the most ideal microbiota for transplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Butyrates / analysis*
  • Child
  • Clostridium Infections / therapy*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation*
  • Feces / chemistry*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tissue Donors*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Butyrates