Noninvasive Microbiome Test May Specifically Identify Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis (Medscape)

International researchers have identified distinctive bacterial signatures in the gut microbiome that may lead to new, noninvasive diagnostics for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), specifically ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Using metagenomic data from nearly 6,000 fecal samples across multiple ethnicities, the team pinpointed certain bacterial species consistently associated with IBD, including enrichments like Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis in CD patients. Notably, these microbiome-based markers remained stable even during inactive disease phases, suggesting their reliability as disease indicators.