The taxonomic composition of the donor intestinal microbiota is a major factor influencing the efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation in therapy refractory ulcerative colitis

BackgroundFaecal microbiota transplantation is an experimental approach for the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis. Although there is growing evidence that faecal microbiota transplantation is effective in this disease, factors affecting its response are unknown. AimsTo establish a faecal microbiota transplantation treatment protocol in ulcerative colitis patients, and to investigate which patient or donor factors are responsible for the treatment success. MethodsThis is an open controlled trial of repeated faecal microbiota transplantation after antibiotic pre-treatment (FMT-group, n=17) vs antibiotic pre-treatment only (AB-group, n=10) in 27 therapy refractory ulcerative colitis patients over 90days. Faecal samples of donors and patients were analysed by 16SrRNA gene-based microbiota analysis. ResultsIn the FMT-group, 10/17 (59%) of patients showed a response and 4/17 (24%) a remission to faecal microbiota transplantation. Response to faecal microbiota transplantation was mainly influenced by the taxonomic composition of the donor's microbiota. Stool of donors with a high bacterial richness (observed species remission 94693 vs no response 797 +/- 181 at 15367rps) and a high relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (3.3 +/- 3.1% vs 0.1 +/- 0.2%), unclassified Ruminococcaceae (13.8 +/- 5.0% vs 7.5 +/- 3.7%), and Ruminococcus spp. (4.9 +/- 3.5% vs 1.0 +/- 0.7%) were more likely to induce remission. In contrast antibiotic treatment alone (AB-group) was poorly tolerated, probably because of a sustained decrease of intestinal microbial richness. ConclusionsThe taxonomic composition of the donor's intestinal microbiota is a major factor influencing the efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation in ulcerative colitis patients. The design of specific microbial preparation might lead to new treatments for ulcerative colitis.