Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Transplant. Mar 18, 2021; 11(3): 16-36
Published online Mar 18, 2021. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v11.i3.16
Table 1 Distribution of normal gut flora in different parts of intestine
Intestine sections
Function
Normal flora
StomachAcid production, pepsin, amylase, CFU < 103/mLLactobacillus; Streptococcus; Helycobacter pylori
Small intestine: duodenum, jejunumPancreatic enzymes, bicarbonate ions, bile salts, CFU: 103-104/mLLactobacilli; Enterococci; Streptococci; Actinobacteria
Small intestine: ileumCFU: 103-109/mLEnterococcus; Bacteroidetes; Lactobacillus; Clostridium; Corynebacteria
Large intestine: caecum, colonMucus and bicarbonate, CFU:1010-1012/mLBacteroidetes; Clostridium; Eubacterium; Ruminococcus; Streptococcus; Enterococcus; Lactobacillus; Fusobacteria
Table 2 Functional activities of normal gut flora
Protective function
Metabolic function
Structural function
Nutrient competition; Barrier fortification; Innate and adaptive immunity activation; Antimicrobial compounds secretionVitamin and amino acid biosynthesis; Bile acid biotransformation; Dietary fiber fermentation; Short chain fatty acids productionMucus layer properties; Crypt and villi development; Villi microvascularization; Tight junction regulation
Table 3 Alterations in the gut microbiota following kidney transplantation according phylum and order
Phylum
Pre Tx cohort
Post Tx cohort
Firmicutes91.8%87.7%
Actinobacteria2.0%7.6%
Proteobacteria0.9%4.1%
Bacteroidetes2.8%0.6%
Order
Clostridiales64.8%64.3%
Lactobacillales19.1%12.0%
Erysipelotrichales5.6%10.2%
Bifidobacteriales1.6%6.6%
Enterobacteriales0.4%3.9%
Bacteroidales2.8%0.6%
Table 4 Microbial composition of fecal specimens from patients with or without acute rejection, by Philum and Order
Phylum
No AR cohort
AR cohort
P value
Firmicutes91.4%76.6%0.40
Actinobacteria3.7%8.2%0.60
Proteobacteria1.3%15.2%0.33
Bacteroidetes3.1%0.02%0.03
Order
Clostridiales63.1%16.9%0.01
Lactobacillales12.7%49.9%0.04
Erysipelotrichales13.3%9.2%0.32
Bifidobacteriales3.1%7.9%0.44
Enterobacteriales1.0%14.7%0.17
Bacteroidales3.1%0.02%0.03
Table 5 Potential transplant associated factors that may lead to changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota and cause infections
Risk factors
Microbiota changes
Consequences
Interventions
Dietary patternsIncrease in bacteria translocationGastrointestinal upset e.g., diarrheaDiet
Changes to colonic and bowel transit timeIncrease in metabolic endotoxemiaUrinary tract infectionsPrebiotics
ImmunosuppressionIncrease in gut-derived microbial toxin formationOther infections not yet exploredProbiotics
AntibioticsSynbiotics
Lifestyle (sedentary, smoking, alcohol)
Table 6 Most significant genus level composition in the fecal specimens from the diarrhea group and the no diarrhea group
Bacterial Taxonomy Genus
Median relative abundance in the diarrhea group
Median relative abundance in the no diarrhea group
P value
Eubacterium0.0020.0171.5E-09
Anaerostipes0.0000.0052.7E-08
Coprococcus0.0000.0043.0E-08
Romboutsia0.0000.0144.2E-06
Ruminococcus0.0070.0258.3E-06
Dorea0.0000.0073.4E-05
Enterococcus0.0020.0001.3E-04
Faecalibacterium0.0000.0191.4E-04
Fusicatenibacter0.0000.0060.001
Oscillibacter0.0010.0080.001
Ruminiclostridium0.0050.0210.002
Table 7 Actions of short-chain fatty acids on a model of ischemia reperfusion syndrome
Actions
SCFAs improve renal function
SCFAs decrease apoptosis and increase tubular proliferating cells
SCFAs decrease activation of bone marrow derived dendritic cells and inhibit their function as antigen presenting cells
SCFAs inhibit NFkB activation and nitric oxide production
SFCAs inhibit ROS production