Transfer of altered behaviour and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) through fecal microbiota transplant in mouse model indicates need for stricter donor screening criteria

Experimental studies performing fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) from human to animals and between animals is providing enlightening information with regards to phenotypical characteristics that can potentially be influenced by the microbiome. A recent study by De Palma (1) has shown that fecal material from humans with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea (IBS-D) invoked physical changes in the intestinal environment and in behavior. This is an interesting outcome, given the questions that have been raised about the relevance of certain models’ in light of the differences between the rodent gut physiology, the microbiome and the human condition (2,3).