Detection of Luminal and Mucosa-associated Microbiome in Healthy Controls vs. Local and Systemic Inflammation

A dysbiosis of human gut microbiome is discussed in the pathogenesis of many disorders, also including gastrointestinal (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, IBD) or liver diseases (e.g. liver cirrhosis) . A detailed analysis of intestinal bacterial patterns might reveal important findings for understanding disease pathogenesis. Thereby many studies only analysed the luminal microbiome of stool samples, whereas mucosa-associated bacteria have possibly a greater impact on human health and immune system .

To determine the differences of luminal and mucosa-associated bacteria, stool and mucosa samples (via biopsies) will be collected. Thereby biopsies are taken of different intestinal locations (small intestine and colon) to detect variations along intestinal tract. An additional comparison of bacterial patterns in patients with chronic, local (IBD) and systemic inflammation (with liver cirrhosis) or without intestinal inflammations (healthy controls) should reveal the influence of microbiome on or by inflammation processes.

Inclusion criteria

• healthy volunteers with indication for cancer screening without gastrointestinal symptoms
• patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
• patients with indication for evaluation of liver transplantation (LTX)

Exclusion criteria

• other gastrointestinal disease, e.g. celiac disease, gastrointestinal tumors
• antibiotic treatment within 6 weeks before gastroscopy / colonoscopy