Microbial Factors Associated with Postoperative Crohn's Disease Recurrence

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The intestinal microbiota is a key antigenic driver in Crohn's disease [CD]. We aimed to identify changes in the gut microbiome associated with, and predictive of, disease recurrence and remission.METHODS: A total of 141 mucosal biopsy samples from 34 CD patients were obtained at surgical resection and at colonoscopy 6 and/or 18 months postoperatively; 28 control samples were obtained: 12 from healthy patients [healthy controls] and 16 from hemicolectomy patients [surgical controls]. Bacterial 16S ribosomal profiling was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform.RESULTS: CD was associated with reduced alpha diversity when compared with healthy controls but not surgical..