Microbiome-Based Therapeutics

Question 1

What does FMT stand for?

Answer 1

Faecal Microbiota Transplantation

Question 2

What is FMT often used to treat?

Answer 2

Clostridium Difficile Infection

Question 3

What is out gut microbiome?

Answer 3

The collective genome in the gut ecosystem

Question 4

What is our gut microbiota?

Answer 4

The vast array of microbes inhabiting the GI tract

Question 5

How is microbiota diversity associated with a wide range of diseases?

Answer 5

A decreased diversity is associated

Question 6

In what ways is FMT an effective microbiome-altering treatment?

Answer 6

• production of beneficial metabolites (SCFA & Secondary bile acid production)
• Colonisation resistance
• Establishment of replicating self-sustaining species

Question 7

What is C. Difficile

Answer 7

A spore-forming anaerobic, toxin producing intestinal pathogen

Question 8

What was the name of the first FDA approved FMT for treatment of C. Difficile infection (CDI)?

Answer 8

Rebyota

Question 9

For what ages was Rebyota approved?

Answer 9

18 and over

Question 10

What are the most commonly reported adverse reactions of Rebyota?

Answer 10

abdominal pain, diarrhoea, abdominal distention, flatulence, nausea

Question 11

What are the main concerns of FMT?

Answer 11

Pathogen transmission

Question 12

What are the two most abundant species in the colon?

Answer 12

Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes

Question 13

Apart from Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, name three other species present in the colon

Answer 13

Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria

Question 14

Name a type of Firmicutes

Answer 14

Lactobacillus

Question 15

Describe an action in the gut of Lactobacillus

Answer 15

Engages with mucosal immune system and in the metabolisation of trytophan( contributing to serotonin production)

Question 16

What do Bacteroidetes do?

Answer 16

• Catabolise complex polysaccharides
• Contribute to colonisation resistance

Question 17

An increase in what gut species is a signature of dysbiosis?

Answer 17

Proteobacteria

Question 18

Bifidobacterium belongs to wha family of gut species?

Answer 18

Actinobacteria

Question 19

What does Bifidobacterium do?

Answer 19

Stimulate T-cells in the colon

Question 20

What are the 3 main microbiome therapeutics?

Answer 20

Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics

Question 21

What are the treatment alternative to FMT?

Answer 21

• Diet & Prebiotics
• Symbiotic - microbial consortia
• Engineered Symbiotic Bacteria
• Microbiota derived proteins and metabolites

Question 22

Name two microbiota derived proteins and metabolites

Answer 22

SCFA & Secondary bile acids

Question 23

How can the gut microbiota alter pharmacological drugs?

Answer 23

By
- degrading the drug
- activating the drug
- modulating host enzymes

Question 24

What are the two primary chemical mechanisms of how the gut microbiota alter drug metabolism?

Answer 24

Hydrolytic reactions and reductive reactions