The role of the microbiome in kidney stone formation

Nephrolithiasis is a complex disease of worldwide prevalence that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. About 75% of kidney stones are predominantly composed of calcium oxalate and urinary oxalate is considered a crucial risk factor. Microorganisms may have a role in the pathogenesis and prevention of kidney stones and the involvement of the intestinal microbiome in this renal disease has been a recent area of interest. Oxalobacter formigenes is a gram negative bacteria that degrades oxalate in the gut decreasing urinary oxalate excretion. In this review, we examine the data studying the role of Oxalobacter formigenes in kidney stone disease in humans and animals, the effect of antibiotics on its colonization, and the potential role of probiotics and whole microbial communities as therapeutic interventions. (C) 2016 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.