Transplantation of a bacterial consortium ameliorates trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis and intestinal dysbiosis in rats

Aim: To investigate the effects of a defined bacterial consortium on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis and intestinal dysbiosis in rats. Materials & methods: Rats with TNBS-induced colitis were treated with ceftriaxone and/or a mixture of ten bacterial strains isolated from mouse feces for continuous 24 days. Macroscopic and histopathological parameters in colonic tissue were compared, as were myeloperoxidase enzyme activity and cytokine levels. Patterns of intestinal microbiota were assessed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, the abundance of selected microbial groups was evaluated by qPCR. Results & conclusion: Transplantation of the bacterial consortium showed anti-inflammatory activity in the intestines of rats with TNBS-induced colitis and contributed to the rapid re-establishment of intestinal microbial equilibrium. A defined bacterial consortium may be a viable therapeutic option for the treatment inflammatory bowel disease.