PhyloChip microarray analysis reveals altered gastrointestinal microbial communities in a rat model of colonic hypersensitivity

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Neurogastroenterology&Motility

OSTI ID:1010928

Nelson, T A; Holmes, S; Alekseyenko, A V; Shenoy, M; DeSantis, T; Wu, C H; Andersen, G L; Winston, J; Sonnenburg, J; Pasricha, P J; Spormann, A

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, episodic gastrointestinal disorder that is prevalent in a significant fraction of western human populations; and changes in the microbiota of the large bowel have been implicated in the pathology of the disease. Using a novel comprehensive, high-density DNA microarray (PhyloChip) we performed a phylogenetic analysis of the microbial community of the large bowel in a rat model in which intracolonic acetic acid in neonates was used to induce long lasting colonic hypersensitivity and decreased stool water content and frequency, representing the equivalent of human constipation-predominant IBS. Our results revealed a significantly increased compositional difference in the microbial communities in rats with neonatal irritation as compared with controls. Even more striking was the dramatic change in the ratio of Firmicutes relative to Bacteroidetes, where neonatally irritated rats were enriched more with Bacteroidetes and also contained a different composition of species within this phylum. Our study also revealed differences at the level of bacterial families and species. The PhyloChip is a useful and convenient method to study enteric microflora. Further, this rat model system may be a useful experimental platform to study the causes and consequences of changes in microbial community composition associated with IBS.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: Earth Sciences Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1010928
• Report Number(s): LBNL-4351E
• Journal Information: Neurogastroenterology&Motility, Journal Name: Neurogastroenterology&Motility; ISSN 1350-1925
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
ACETIC ACID
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
DNA
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MICROORGANISMS
NEONATES
PATHOLOGY
RATS