Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis model

BackgroundGrowing evidence links gut microbial dysbiosis to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis, establishing fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a microbiota-targeted therapy; however, variable outcomes in randomized trials highlight the need to identify compositional features of do...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhongming Dai, Wen Cheng, Huan Peng, Xiaokui Qiu, Jiawen Sun, Xiaoqiang Liu, Xianjiu Sun, Jinwei Cai, Jincui Wang, Guolong Li, Yongling Lv, Shaobo Chen, Zhongying Zhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1635244/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839607727404351488
author Zhongming Dai
Wen Cheng
Huan Peng
Xiaokui Qiu
Jiawen Sun
Xiaoqiang Liu
Xianjiu Sun
Jinwei Cai
Jincui Wang
Guolong Li
Yongling Lv
Shaobo Chen
Zhongying Zhong
author_facet Zhongming Dai
Wen Cheng
Huan Peng
Xiaokui Qiu
Jiawen Sun
Xiaoqiang Liu
Xianjiu Sun
Jinwei Cai
Jincui Wang
Guolong Li
Yongling Lv
Shaobo Chen
Zhongying Zhong
author_sort Zhongming Dai
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundGrowing evidence links gut microbial dysbiosis to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis, establishing fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a microbiota-targeted therapy; however, variable outcomes in randomized trials highlight the need to identify compositional features of donor microbiota associated with FMT efficacy.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate how the composition of the donor gut microbiota influences the therapeutic efficacy of FMT in IBD.MethodFecal DNA from 39 IBD patients and 42 healthy donors was analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Donor-enriched genera (identified through differential analysis and median abundance thresholds) guided FMT selection. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice received donor microbiota transplants; disease activity and microbiota dynamics were evaluated through longitudinal sequencing.ResultsIBD patients showed reduced microbial diversity and increased Proteobacteria phylum versus healthy donors, as well as the genera Escherichia-Shigella, Megamonas, and Klebsiella. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified 50 differentially abundant genera, with 36 beneficial taxa enriched in donors. Based on median abundance of these health-associated genera, four high- and low-abundance donors were selected. FMT from high-abundance donors outperformed low-abundance donors and 5-ASA in colitis mice, restoring microbial diversity to healthy levels. Recipient mice showed increased Firmicutes and Bacteroidota and decreased Verrucomicrobiota, with Lactobacillus and Dubosiella enrichment and normalization of Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Akkermansia, Turicibacter, and Parabacteroides. LEfSe identified 24 genera distinguishing IBD and control mice; post-FMT microbiota of high-abundance donor recipients more closely resembled controls, correlating with therapeutic success.ConclusionFMT ameliorated IBD symptoms in murine models, with therapeutic efficacy associated with the relative abundance of health-associated microbial genera in donor microbiota.
format Article
id doaj-art-a9f6114083fa4917bfe2e8cc2836b47f
institution Matheson Library
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-a9f6114083fa4917bfe2e8cc2836b47f2025-08-01T04:14:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16352441635244Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis modelZhongming Dai0Wen Cheng1Huan Peng2Xiaokui Qiu3Jiawen Sun4Xiaoqiang Liu5Xianjiu Sun6Jinwei Cai7Jincui Wang8Guolong Li9Yongling Lv10Shaobo Chen11Zhongying Zhong12Department of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Qiu District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaBackgroundGrowing evidence links gut microbial dysbiosis to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis, establishing fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a microbiota-targeted therapy; however, variable outcomes in randomized trials highlight the need to identify compositional features of donor microbiota associated with FMT efficacy.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate how the composition of the donor gut microbiota influences the therapeutic efficacy of FMT in IBD.MethodFecal DNA from 39 IBD patients and 42 healthy donors was analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Donor-enriched genera (identified through differential analysis and median abundance thresholds) guided FMT selection. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice received donor microbiota transplants; disease activity and microbiota dynamics were evaluated through longitudinal sequencing.ResultsIBD patients showed reduced microbial diversity and increased Proteobacteria phylum versus healthy donors, as well as the genera Escherichia-Shigella, Megamonas, and Klebsiella. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified 50 differentially abundant genera, with 36 beneficial taxa enriched in donors. Based on median abundance of these health-associated genera, four high- and low-abundance donors were selected. FMT from high-abundance donors outperformed low-abundance donors and 5-ASA in colitis mice, restoring microbial diversity to healthy levels. Recipient mice showed increased Firmicutes and Bacteroidota and decreased Verrucomicrobiota, with Lactobacillus and Dubosiella enrichment and normalization of Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Akkermansia, Turicibacter, and Parabacteroides. LEfSe identified 24 genera distinguishing IBD and control mice; post-FMT microbiota of high-abundance donor recipients more closely resembled controls, correlating with therapeutic success.ConclusionFMT ameliorated IBD symptoms in murine models, with therapeutic efficacy associated with the relative abundance of health-associated microbial genera in donor microbiota.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1635244/fullgut microbiotadonor screeningFMTIBD16S rRNA
spellingShingle Zhongming Dai
Wen Cheng
Huan Peng
Xiaokui Qiu
Jiawen Sun
Xiaoqiang Liu
Xianjiu Sun
Jinwei Cai
Jincui Wang
Guolong Li
Yongling Lv
Shaobo Chen
Zhongying Zhong
Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis model
Frontiers in Immunology
gut microbiota
donor screening
FMT
IBD
16S rRNA
title Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis model
title_full Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis model
title_fullStr Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis model
title_full_unstemmed Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis model
title_short Microbiota composition-based donor selection affects FMT efficacy in a murine colitis model
title_sort microbiota composition based donor selection affects fmt efficacy in a murine colitis model
topic gut microbiota
donor screening
FMT
IBD
16S rRNA
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1635244/full
work_keys_str_mv AT zhongmingdai microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT wencheng microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT huanpeng microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT xiaokuiqiu microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT jiawensun microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT xiaoqiangliu microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT xianjiusun microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT jinweicai microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT jincuiwang microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT guolongli microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT yonglinglv microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT shaobochen microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel
AT zhongyingzhong microbiotacompositionbaseddonorselectionaffectsfmtefficacyinamurinecolitismodel