Although the idea of faecal transplantation dates back many decades, only with advances in scientific technologies can we begin systematic development of this new class of therapeutics. The primary focus remains on treatment of Clostridium difficile infection—new applications are beginning to emerge, but a long journey remains ahead.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Eiseman, B., Silen, W., Bascom, G. S. & Kauvar, A. J. Fecal enema as an adjunct in the treatment of pseudomembranous enterocolitis. Surgery 44, 854–859 (1958).
van Nood, E. et al. Duodenal infusion of donor feces for recurrent Clostridium difficile. N. Engl. J. Med. 368, 407–415 (2013).
He, M. et al. Emergence and global spread of epidemic healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile. Nat. Genet. 45, 109–113 (2013).
Eyre, D. W. et al. Diverse sources of C. difficile infection identified on whole-genome sequencing. N. Engl. J. Med. 369, 1195–1205 (2013).
Tvede, M. & Rask-Madsen, J. Bacteriotherapy for chronic relapsing Clostridium difficile diarrhoea in six patients. Lancet 1, 1156–1160 (1989).
Petrof, E. O. et al. Stool substitute transplant therapy for the eradication of Clostridium difficile infection: 'RePOOPulating' the gut. Microbiome 1, 1–12 (2013).
Aroniadis, O. C. & Brandt, L. J. Fecal microbiota transplantation: past, present and future. Curr. Opin. Gastroenterol. 29, 79–84 (2013).
Smits, L. P., Bouter, K. E., de Vos, W. M., Borody, T. J. & Nieuwdorp, M. Therapeutic potential of fecal microbiota transplantation. Gastroenterology 145, 946–953 (2013).
Kunde, S. et al. Safety, tolerability, and clinical response after fecal transplantation in children and young adults with ulcerative colitis. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 56, 597–601 (2013).
Angelberger, S. et al. Temporal bacterial community dynamics vary among ulcerative colitis patients after fecal microbiota transplantation. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 108, 1620–1630 (2013).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author has acted as a consultant and received grant support from CIPAC LLC for research on frozen faecal microbiota. Conflicts of interests are being managed by the University of Minnesota conflict of interests programme.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khoruts, A. Developing human gut microbiota as a class of therapeutics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 79–80 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.231
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.231
