Characterization of the fecal microbial taxonomic composition and functional potential and integrative analysis with gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptoms in subjects with disorders of gut-brain interactions

The etiology of lower GI disorders of gut-brain interactions (DGBIs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional constipation (FC) and functional diarrhea (FD), is multifactorial but alterations of the colonic microbiota likely contribute. However, it remains uncertain if these disorders are part of the same disease spectrum or are different diseases. Metagenomic analysis of fecal samples allows the investigation of the composition and functional potential of the microbiota and has been used to understand better several diseases but there are relatively few DGBI studies. We aimed to apply metagenomic analysis of the fecal microbiota in DGBIs, and integrative analysis with gastrointestinal and non- gastrointestinal symptoms. We hypothesized we would identify different pathways and markers of dysbiosis discriminating DGBIs within subtypes and from controls.