The goal of this prospective observational study is to determine if specific microbiome signatures can predict therapeutic responses in adult patients with Crohn's disease (CD), a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), living in British Columbia, Canada. The main questions this study seeks to answer are: 1. Can microbiome signatures across different sample types (fecal, intestinal washings, and intestinal epithelial biopsies) predict response to therapy in CD? 2. How do microbiome profiles differ between active and quiescent CD and non-IBD controls? Researchers will compare microbiome signatures in patients with active and inactive CD as well as non-IBD controls to see if there are any microbial signatures that predict response to therapy. Participants will: 1. Provide fecal and blood samples. 2. Undergo intestinal washings and intestinal epithelial biopsy specimens taken during routine colonoscopy. 3. Participate in a longitudinal follow-up over 12 months to monitor clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic responses to therapy.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The study aims to evaluate microbiome profiles (bacteriome, and mycobiome) across three different sample types (fecal, intestinal washings, and intestinal epithelial biopsies) in a cohort of adult patients with Crohn's disease (CD) living in British Columbia, Canada, and investigate whether a microbial signature may predict response to IBD therapy. Aims: 1. Determine microbiome signatures, across different sample types, in quiescent and active disease for patients with CD living in BC, Canada. 2. Evaluate whether fecal, mucosal, and/or intestinal epithelial biopsy microbiome signatures can predict response to therapy. Methods Study Design: Phase 1: A cross-sectional pilot study to evaluate the microbiome in patients with IBD (with active and quiescent disease) and in non-IBD controls. Primary Outcome: Compare results of microbial analyses (including bacteriome and mycobiome) across three different sample types: intestinal washings and intestinal epithelial biopsy specimens taken during colonoscopy, as well as fecal samples. Secondary Outcomes: Investigate correlations between the microbial analyses across different sample types and disease activity in CD. Compare the difference in microbial analyses within each sample type between active and quiescent CD as well as non-IBD patients. Investigate if fecal microbiome composition and function 2 weeks after bowel preparation is comparable to pre-bowel preparation fecal microbiome in a subset of patients with CD. Phase 2: A longitudinal observational study with a 12-month follow-up. Primary Outcome: Identify if there are any microbial signatures that predict response to therapy in patients with active disease requiring escalated therapy, assessed clinically and biochemically after induction (12-16 weeks) and at 12 months (+/- 3 months). Secondary Outcomes: Compare the sensitivity and specificity of microbial analyses from each sample type in predicting response to therapy.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
A colonoscopy will be performed as part of routine clinical care for all participants, with the study not requiring any additional scheduling commitments outside of routine care.
GI Research Institute
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
RECRUITINGCompare results of microbial analyses (including bacteriome and mycobiome) across three different sample types: intestinal washings and intestinal epithelial biopsy specimens taken during colonoscopy as well as fecal samples.
Microbial analyses that will be undertaken for each sample type are as follows: Stool: * Metagenomics (Shotgun sequencing, ITS sequencing for fungal analysis) * Metaproteomics and metabolomics (Host, microbial, and dietary protein analysis, microbial metabolite analysis) * Anaerobic culturing (Simulate gut environment, use dietary substrates to target key microbes) Biopsy specimens: * Organoid culturing (In vitro gut model analysis, epithelial-microbiome analysis, mucin production analysis) * RNA-seq, transcriptomics (Gene expression profiling analysis, disease marker identification) * Metagenomics * Metaproteomics and metabolomics Intestinal washings: * Mucin analysis (Glycoprotein analysis) * Metagenomics * Metaproteomics and metabolomics
Time frame: 24 months
In patients with active Crohn's disease, where a decision is made to escalate therapy after the index endoscopy, identify if there are any microbial signatures that predict response to therapy after induction (12 - 16 weeks).
* Clinical Response: Defined based on changes in clinical symptoms as per standardized clinical scoring systems (SES-CD). * Biochemical Response: Assessed through C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and fecal calprotectin, two biomarkers that indicate inflammation or disease activity. The Simple Endoscopy Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) is an objective clinical assessment of the severity of a patient's Crohn's disease. A higher score means more severe disease activity. The three severity classes of SES-CD scoring are as follows: * Endoscopic remission (SES-CD \<3). * Moderate to severe endoscopically active disease (SES-CD ≥ 7 or ≥ 4 for isolated ileal CD). * Mild endoscopically active disease (SES-CD of 3-6, or 3 with isolated ileal CD).
Time frame: 24 months
In patients with active Crohn's disease, where a decision is made to escalate therapy after the index endoscopy, identify if there are any microbial signatures that predict sustained response to therapy at 12 Months (+/- 3 months).
* Clinical Response: Continuation or improvement in clinical symptoms as measured by standardized clinical scoring systems (SES-CD). * Biochemical Response: Persistent normalization or improvement in CRP levels and fecal calprotectin. * Endoscopic Response: Improvement or healing of mucosal lesions as observed during endoscopic examination, assessed by validated clinical scoring systems (SES-CD).
Time frame: 24 months
Investigate the correlations between the microbial analyses across different sample types and disease activity in CD.
Correlation Analysis: Statistical measures will be used to assess the strength and direction of the relationship between microbial composition in different sample types (intestine washings, intestinal biopsy, fecal samples) and disease activity in CD. Disease Activity Measures: Disease activity will be assessed using the modified Harvey-Bradshaw Index, biochemical markers (CRP, fecal calprotectin), and endoscopic findings (SES-CD).
Time frame: 24 months
Compare the difference in microbial analyses within each sample type between active and quiescent CD as well as non-IBD patients.
Assessments: 1\. Microbial Diversity Metrics: * Alpha-diversity Metrics: * Shannon index * Inverse Simpson diversity index * Chao1 * These metrics will be used to compare microbial diversity within each sample type between active and quiescent CD patients, as well as non-IBD patients.
Time frame: 24 months
Compare the difference in microbial analyses within each sample type between active and quiescent CD as well as non-IBD patients.
Assessments: Differential Abundance Analysis: Differential abundance analysis will be performed using generalized linear models to identify specific microbial taxa that are significantly different between active and quiescent CD patients, and non-IBD patients within each sample type.
Time frame: 24 months
Investigate, in a subset of patients with CD, if fecal microbiome composition and function 2 weeks after bowel preparation is comparable to pre-bowel preparation fecal microbiome.
Assessments: Comparison of Microbial Composition: Beta-diversity metrics (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, Jaccard index) and phylogenetic-dependent distance metrics (weighted and unweighted UniFrac) will be calculated, and subsequent clustering will be applied using a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). To test for overall microbiome differences, a PERMANOVA test will be applied. The Benjamini-Hochberg method will be applied to control for the false discovery rate.
Time frame: 24 months
Investigate, in a subset of patients with CD, if fecal microbiome composition and function 2 weeks after bowel preparation is comparable to pre-bowel preparation fecal microbiome.
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Assessments: Functional Analysis: Functional profiling of the microbiome will be conducted to assess if there are any changes in the metabolic pathways and functions of the microbiome between pre- and post-bowel preparation samples in the subset of CD patients.
Time frame: 24 months
Compare the sensitivity of the microbial analyses from each sample type in their prediction of response to therapy.
Sensitivity of Microbial Analyses: * Using predictive models developed from microbial and statistical analyses, the sensitivity of microbial analyses from each sample type will be evaluated. * Sensitivity will be reported as the proportion of true positives correctly identified by the analysis.
Time frame: 24 months
Compare the specificity of the microbial analyses from each sample type in their prediction of response to therapy.
Specificity of Microbial Analyses: * Predictive models will also be used to evaluate the specificity of microbial analyses from each sample type. * Specificity will be reported as the proportion of true negatives correctly identified by the analysis.
Time frame: 24 months