Taxonomic and functional characteristics of gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease: a scoping review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62305/biosana.v6i4.1255Keywords:
gut microbiota; inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn's disease; ulcerative colitis; dysbiosisAbstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which mainly includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, constitutes a growing public health problem. The available evidence suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota play an essential role in the pathophysiology. However, the reported findings exhibit heterogeneity in terms of microbial profiles and their functional implications. The objective of this scoping review was to explore the available scientific evidence on the alterations of the gut microbiota associated with IBD and their main clinical implications. A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SciELO for original studies published between 2020 and 2026, ultimately including 20 investigations. The evidence showed a decrease in short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, especially Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia spp. as well as an increase in pro-inflammatory microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and members of the Proteobacteria phylum. Additionally, the studies reported a reduction in microbial diversity, alterations in metabolic pathways related to butyrate production, and changes in microbial biomarkers associated with disease activity. Overall, the findings demonstrate a consistent relationship between intestinal dysbiosis and IBD, although with variability in the described microbiological profiles. The review identified that intestinal dysbiosis constitutes a relevant component of IBD and supports the potential of the microbiota for the understanding and monitoring of this disease. However, the methodological heterogeneity among the studies highlights the need for research with standardized protocols to strengthen the comparability and applicability of the available evidence.
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