Deakin University
Browse

Prior Appendicectomy and Gut Microbiota Re-Establishment in Adults after Bowel Preparation and Colonoscopy

Download (623.18 kB)
Version 4 2024-10-19, 23:25
Version 3 2024-09-18, 04:59
Version 2 2024-09-17, 01:57
Version 1 2024-09-12, 04:20
journal contribution
posted on 2024-10-19, 23:25 authored by Amelia McGuinnessAmelia McGuinness, Martin O’Hely, Douglas StupartDouglas Stupart, David WattersDavid Watters, Samantha DawsonSamantha Dawson, Christopher Hair, Michael BerkMichael Berk, Mohammadreza MohebbiMohammadreza Mohebbi, Amy Loughman, Glenn GuestGlenn Guest, Felice JackaFelice Jacka
Emerging evidence suggests that the human vermiform appendix is not a vestigial organ but rather an immunological organ of biological relevance. It is hypothesised that the appendix acts as a bacterial ‘safe house’ for commensal gut bacteria and facilitates re-inoculation of the colon after disruption through the release of biofilms. To date, no studies have attempted to explore this potential mechanistic function of the appendix. We conducted a pre-post intervention study in adults (n = 59) exploring re-establishment of the gut microbiota in those with and without an appendix after colonic disruption via bowel preparation and colonoscopy. Gut microbiota composition was measured one week before and one month after bowel preparation and colonoscopy using 16S rRNA sequencing. We observed between group differences in gut microbiota composition between those with (n = 45) and without (n = 13) an appendix at baseline. These differences were no longer evident one-month post-procedure, suggesting that this procedure may have ‘reset’ any potential appendix-related differences between groups. Both groups experienced reductions in gut microbiota richness and shifts in beta diversity post-procedure, with greater changes in those without an appendix, and there were five bacterial genera whose re-establishment post-procedure appeared to be moderated by appendicectomy status. This small experimental study provides preliminary evidence of a potential differential re-establishment of the gut microbiota after disruption in those with and without an appendix, warranting further investigation into the potential role of the appendix as a microbial safe house.

History

Journal

Biomedicines

Volume

12

Article number

1938

Pagination

1938-1938

Location

Basel, Switzerland

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

2227-9059

eISSN

2227-9059

Language

en

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

9

Publisher

MDPI AG