Comparison of microbial communities and the profile of sulfate-reducing bacteria in patients with ulcerative colitis and their association with bowel diseases: a pilot study.

Considerable evidence has accumulated regarding the molecular relationship between gut microbiota (GM) composition and the onset (clinical presentation and prognosis of ulcerative colitis (UC)). In addition, it is well documented that short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria may play a fundamental role in maintaining an anti-inflammatory intestinal homeostasis, but sulfate- and sulfite reducing bacteria may be responsible for the production of toxic metabolites, such as hydrogen sulfide and acetate. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the GM composition - focusing on sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) - in patients with severe, severe-active and moderate UC.

Intestinal Microbiota and Perspectives of the Use of Meta-Analysis for Comparison of Ulcerative Colitis Studies.

Meta-analysis is a statistical process summarizing comparable data from a number of scientific papers. The use of meta-analysis in microbiology allows decision-making that has an impact on public health policy. It can happen that the primary researches come to different conclusions, although these are targeted with the same research question.