Gut Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Profiles in Ulcerative Colitis
Author
Zrabkowska, Julia
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Pages
60
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease marked by chronic, relapsing inflammation. The gut microbiota is thought to play a key role, and an imbalance—known as dysbiosis—together with environmental factors has been linked to the onset and progression of UC. Yet the exact causes remain unclear, making effective treatment challenging. This study examined the structure of the gut bacterial community and its relationship to the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in DNA from people with UC at different disease severities. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, a DNA-based “barcode” method to identify bacteria, and performed bioinformatic analyses to compare by disease status and current medication use. In parallel, we applied qPCR, a highly sensitive DNA test, to detect selected resistance genes. Our results revealed clear differences in gut microbiota composition in UC patients compared with healthy controls. Moreover, the presence of ARGs was specific to individual patients and appeared to mirror the observed dysbiosis.
Ulcerøs colitis (UC) er en type inflammatorisk tarmsygdom med kroniske, tilbagevendende betændelsesperioder. Tarmens bakteriesamfund (mikrobiota) menes at spille en vigtig rolle, og en ubalance – kaldet dysbiose – samt miljøfaktorer er knyttet til sygdommens start og udvikling. Alligevel er årsagerne ikke fuldt forstået, hvilket gør effektiv behandling udfordrende. Dette studie undersøgte, hvordan bakteriesamfundet i tarmen er opbygget, og hvordan det hænger sammen med tilstedeværelsen af antibiotikaresistens-gener (ARG’er) i DNA fra personer med UC i forskellige sværhedsgrader. Vi brugte 16S rRNA-gen amplicon-sekventering, en DNA-baseret metode der fungerer som en slags stregkode til at identificere bakterier, og analyserede data bioinformatisk for at sammenligne efter sygdomsstatus og aktuelt medicinbrug. Parallelt anvendte vi qPCR, en meget følsom DNA-test, til at påvise udvalgte resistensgener. Resultaterne viste markante forskelle i sammensætningen af tarmbakterier hos UC-patienter sammenlignet med raske kontroller. Derudover var tilstedeværelsen af resistensgener forskellig fra patient til patient og så ud til at afspejle den observerede dysbiose.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]