Microbiome alteration via fecal microbiota transplantation is effective for refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) target advanced malignancies with high efficacy but also predispose patients to immune-related adverse events like immune-mediated colitis (IMC). Given the association between gut bacteria with response to ICI therapy and subsequent IMC, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) represents a feasible way to manipulate microbial composition in patients, with a potential benefit for IMC. Here, we present a large case series of 12 patients with refractory IMC who underwent FMT from healthy donors as salvage therapy.

IgA-Biome Profiles Correlate with Clinical Parkinson's Disease Subtypes.

Background: Parkinson's disease is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder with distinctive gut microbiome patterns suggesting that interventions targeting the gut microbiota may prevent, slow, or reverse disease progression and severity.

Objective: Because secretory IgA (SIgA) plays a key role in shaping the gut microbiota, characterization of the IgA-Biome of individuals classified into either the akinetic rigid (AR) or tremor dominant (TD) Parkinson's disease clinical subtypes was used to further define taxa unique to these distinct clinical phenotypes.

Methods: Flow cytometry was used to separate IgA-coated and -uncoated bacteria from stool samples obtained from AR and TD patients followed by amplification and sequencing of the V4 region of the 16 S rDNA gene on the MiSeq platform (Illumina).

Fecal microbiota transplantation in Parkinson's disease-A randomized repeat-dose, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study.

Background And Purpose: The intestinal microbiome plays a primary role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and may provide an opportunity for disease modification. We performed a pilot clinical study looking at the safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), its effect on the microbiome, and improvement of symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study, wherein orally administered lyophilized FMT product or matching placebo was given to 12 subjects with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease with constipation twice weekly for 12 weeks.

Intestinal IgA-Coated Bacteria in Healthy- and Altered-Microbiomes (Dysbiosis) and Predictive Value in Successful Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

IgA-coated bacteria in the gut (IgA-biome) provide a homeostatic function in healthy people through inhibition of microbial invaders and by protecting the epithelial monolayer of the gut. The laboratory methods used to detect this group of bacteria require flow cytometry and DNA sequencing (IgA-Seq). With dysbiosis (reduced diversity of the microbiome), the IgA-biome also is impaired.

A Case of Successful Treatment of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection by Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Using Oral Lyophilized Fecal Microbiota Transplant.

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a challenging clinical entity that can be frustrating for patient and physician alike. Repeated rounds of antibiotics can select for multidrug-resistant organisms, further complicating care. We describe the successful use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the treatment of recurrent extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing UTIs in a patient with an ileal conduit and urostomy.

Crystallographic Visualization of a Guest-Induced Solar-Driven Cycloaddition Reaction Based on a Recyclable Nonporous Coordination Polymer.

Stimuli-responsive solids with adjustable photophysical properties are particularly attractive because they can be used as smart materials in anticounterfeiting, information storage, holographic imaging, and other fields. Herein, we report a unique nonporous coordination polymer, {[Ag(3,3'-dpe)](2,2'-Hbpdc)} (; 3,3'-dpe = 1,2-dipyridin-3-ylethene and 2,2'-Hbpdc = 2,2'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid), that can convert to an extremely photoreactive compound, ·HO·MeCN (MeCN = acetonitrile), through guest capture. Upon irradiation of sunlight, ·HO·MeCN can transform to {[Ag(3,3'-tpcb)](2,2'-Hbpdc)(HO)(MeCN)} (·HO·MeCN; 3,3'-tpcb = 1,2,3,4-tetrapyridin-3-ylcyclobutane).

Safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation to treat and prevent recurrent in cancer patients.

Cancer patients are at increased risk of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) due to malignancy itself, cancer therapy, and frequent antibiotic use and have a lower response rate to standard oral antibiotics. There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating rCDI in cancer patients. We aim to describe our experience of using FMT to treat rCDI at a tertiary cancer center.

Evaluation of Six Weekly Oral Fecal Microbiota Transplants in People with HIV.

Background: Reduced microbiota diversity (dysbiosis) in people with HIV (PWH) likely contributes to inflammation, a driver of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of 6 weekly oral fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) administered to reverse this dysbiosis.

Methods: Six PWH on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) received 6 weekly doses of lyophilized fecal microbiota product from healthy donors.

THE INTESTINAL MICROBIOME IN HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE.

The Human Microbiome Initiative of NIH, begun in 2007, has opened the door to the power of the intestinal microbiome in health and disease. The 100 trillion gut microbes influence body function through three pathways: (1) via the neural route where 500 million neurons of the enteric nervous system (the body's second brain) connect to the brain and spinal cord, (2) via the immune route where the gut-immune capacity prevents infection and elicits immune response to vaccines, and (3) by the hormonal route wherein biologically active chemicals are released from enteroendocrine cells to control mood and body functions. Through research, the identification of diseases and disorders associated with abnormal microbiome ("dysbiosis") has increased in number with potential for reversibility.

Abnormal Intestinal Microbiome in Medical Disorders and Potential Reversibility by Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

Reduction in diversity of the intestinal microbiome (dysbiosis) is being identified in many disease states, and studies are showing important biologic contributions of microbiome to health and disease. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is being evaluated as a way to reverse dysbiosis in diseases and disorders in an attempt to improve health. The published literature was reviewed to determine the value of FMT in the treatment of medical disorders for which clinical trials have recently been conducted.

Occurrence of putative virulence-related genes, aatA, aggR and aaiC, of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) among adults with travelers' diarrhea acquired in Guatemala and Mexico.

Enteroaggregative E. coli strains are important causes of diarrhea worldwide and are the second most important bacterial cause of travelers' diarrhea (TD). Pathogenicity of EAEC is not completely understood.

Author Correction: Fecal microbiota transplantation for refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated colitis.

In the version of this article originally published, an author was missing from the author list. Alexander J. Lazar should have been included between Jorge M.

Rifamycin SV-MMX® for treatment of travellers' diarrhea: equally effective as ciprofloxacin and not associated with the acquisition of multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Background: The novel oral antibiotic formulation Rifamycin SV-MMX®, with a targeted delivery to the distal small bowel and colon, was superior to placebo in treating travellers' diarrhea (TD) in a previous study. Thus, a study was designed to compare this poorly absorbed antibiotic with the systemic agent ciprofloxacin.

Methods: In a randomized double-blind phase 3 study (ERASE), the efficacy and safety of Rifamycin SV-MMX® 400 mg twice daily (RIF-MMX) was compared with ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily in the oral treatment of TD.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated colitis.

We report the first case series of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)-associated colitis successfully treated with fecal microbiota transplantation, with reconstitution of the gut microbiome and a relative increase in the proportion of regulatory T-cells within the colonic mucosa. These preliminary data provide evidence that modulation of the gut microbiome may abrogate ICI-associated colitis.

Visualization-assisted binning of metagenome assemblies reveals potential new pathogenic profiles in idiopathic travelers' diarrhea.

Background: Travelers' diarrhea (TD) is often caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, enteroaggregative E. coli, other bacterial pathogens, Norovirus, and occasionally parasites. Nevertheless, standard diagnostic methods fail to identify pathogens in more than 40% of TD patients.

Safety and preliminary efficacy of orally administered lyophilized fecal microbiota product compared with frozen product given by enema for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) via colonoscopy or enema has become a commonly used treatment of recurrent C. difficile infection (CDI).

Aims: To compare the safety and preliminary efficacy of orally administered lyophilized microbiota product compared with frozen product by enema.

Evaluation of Escherichia coli pathotypes associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 10%-20% of people. Increased numbers of Escherichia coli (E. coli) correlate with symptoms, and patients respond to antimicrobials targeting E.

Stability and efficacy of frozen and lyophilized fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) product in a mouse model of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).

Freezing donor fecal microbiota has simplified fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of recurrent C. difficile infection (CDI). However, the optimal storage time for the frozen FMT products remains unknown.

Oxygen Vacancy Engineering of Co O Nanocrystals through Coupling with Metal Support for Water Oxidation.

Oxygen vacancies can help to capture oxygen-containing species and act as active centers for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Unfortunately, effective methods for generating a high amount of oxygen vacancies on the surface of various nanocatalysts are rather limited. Here, we described an effective way to generate oxygen-vacancy-rich surface of transition metal oxides, exemplified with Co O , simply by constructing highly coupled interface of ultrafine Co O nanocrystals and metallic Ti.

Colonization Factors in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Strains in Travelers to Mexico, Guatemala, and India Compared with Children in Houston, Texas.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) can be attributed to around 200 million diarrheal episodes and 380,000 deaths in the developing regions. Travelers' diarrhea occurs in 15-40% of travelers to developing regions with ETEC being the most important etiologic agent. This study aims to describe the distribution of enterotoxins and colonization factor (CF) profiles of ETEC isolates from stool samples of adult travelers acquiring diarrhea in Mexico, Guatemala, and India and a group of children with acute diarrhea in Houston, TX, between 2007 and 2012.

Electrospun Fibrous Mat with pH-Switchable Superwettability That Can Separate Layered Oil/Water Mixtures.

Oil/water separation has inspired much research interest because of the damages caused to our natural environment due to oily wastewater. As a leader of advanced separation materials, electrospun polymeric fibrous mats having the properties of special surface wettability, high specific surface area, and high porosity will be a good membrane material for the separation of oily wastewater. Herein, we first prepared pH-responsive polymer poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PDMS-b-P4VP) mat using electrospinning technology.

Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in Children: Patient Risk Factors and Markers of Intestinal Inflammation.

Background: The management of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children is complicated by recurrence rates of 20%-30%. The identification of risk factors associated with recurrent disease might allow early recognition of those children at highest risk.

Methods: Pediatric patients with CDI were identified through clinical laboratory records at 2 tertiary-care children's hospitals from March 2013 through May 2014.