Effects of oral antibiotics and isotretinoin on the murine gut microbiota

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may develop due to an immunogenic response to commensal gut microbiota triggered by environmental factors. Isotretinoin (acne treatment) has been variably associated with IBD but prior treatment with antibiotics, also associated with IBD development, confounds confirmation of this association. We investigated the effects of doxycycline (acne), metronidazole (IBD), and isotretinoin on murine gut (fecal) microbiota, after 2 weeks’ treatment and after a 4-week recovery period.