Gut Summit 2013: impressions from the third day

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has shown to be efficient in recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection and is being researched in clinical trials for other conditions, but its mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Two new studies shed light on factors that predict clinical success in FMT.

Studying host-microbe interactions in controlled environments is a major challenge in the field of microbiome research. This article outlines the relevance, pros and cons of intestinal fermentation in in vitro models and provides an overview of their applications in microbiome research.

Dietary fibers, known to regulate intestinal inflammation and gut barrier functions, have been avoided by patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) to avoid flare-ups. However, recent findings suggest that if fiber type, patient immunological condition, and the fermentative ability of the gut microbiota are taken into account, they could be beneficial and prevent relapses.