Skip to main content
About the Institute
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Russian
  • Portuguese

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Microbiota 17 - December 2022
  3. Highlights from the UEGW
  • Our publications
    • News
    • Microbiota Mag
    • Thematic pages
    • Experts' point of view
    • Thematic folders
    • Overviews - Microbiota Magazine
  • About the Institute
    • About us
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Press room
    • Partnerships
  • Congresses
    • Congress calendar
    • Congress reviews
  • Continuing Medical Education
    • Accrediting courses
  • Useful documents
    • How to talk about
    • Infographics
    • IBS Diagnosis Check List
    • Patients Stories

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

Lay public section

Find here your dedicated section
Gastroenterology
Gynecology
Pediatrics
General Medicine

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Microbiota 17 - December 2022
  3. Highlights from the UEGW
Gastroenterology

Highlights from the UEGW

Gut health
Gastroenterology

By Dr. Lucas Wauters
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Gastroenterology
Gynecology
Pediatrics
General Medicine
  • Our publications
    • News
    • Microbiota Mag
    • Thematic pages
    • Experts' point of view
    • Thematic folders
    • Overviews - Microbiota Magazine
  • About the Institute
    • About us
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Press room
    • Partnerships
  • Congresses
    • Congress calendar
    • Congress reviews
  • Continuing Medical Education
    • Accrediting courses
  • Useful documents
    • How to talk about
    • Infographics
    • IBS Diagnosis Check List
    • Patients Stories

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

Lay public section

Find here your dedicated section

Sources

This article is based on scientific information

Sharing is caring

Your colleagues might be interested in this topic. Why not share it?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail

Sections

Microbiota mag 17_bandeau congress

About this article

Created 17 January 2023
Updated 23 July 2024

After 2 years of virtual editions, the UEG Week 2022 was not only organized in-person (in Vienna) but also as the very first hybrid congress. With over 10,000 registrants (of which 19% virtual), it is the biggest European and “the best gastroenterology congress in the world” according to the organization and many others. Many highlights focused on the microbiome, of which a selection is discussed here.

A GLIMPSE AT THE HEALTHY MICROBIOME

Despite the timing on the last day, the high attendance of the popular session on “The microbiome as modulators of gut function” is easily explained by the selection of experts. Chaired by Pr. Harry Sokol (Paris, France) and Prof. Tim Vanuytsel (Leuven, Belgium), the first lecture by Pr. Jeroen Raes from the VIB Center for Microbiology (Leuven, Belgium) focused on the healthy gut microbiome. He stated that a definition of normal microbiota variation is essential to allow robust diagnostics, but that we do not even know what a healthy flora means. Indeed, only <10% of microbiota variation could be explained by host and environmental factors in the population- level analysis of the Flemish Gut Flora Project [1]. He showed that many of these variables replicated in the Dutch Microbiome Project, which recently confirmed the important effects of the environment and cohabitation [2].

In addition to the high between-individual variability, Pr. Raes showed evidence for substantial within-individual variation in the quantitative presence of microbial genera [3]. He explained that gut transit time was not only the primary confounder for microbiota composition but also the driver of temporal variation in healthy individuals. While the enterotypes (preferred community compositions) remained relatively stable, he richly illustrated the dysbiotic nature of the novel high-Bacteroides and low microbial load or B2-enterotype. Besides the diagnostic value of this marker across different diseases, he presented surprising findings of statins as a modulator of the microbiome. Finally, he stressed the need for more in vitro ecology work, as identification and isolation of species and their interactions is crucial to refine probiotic treatments and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).

FOCUS ON MICROBIAL STRAINS AND METABOLITES

As an alternative to in vitro work, Italian researchers presented improved strain-level metagenomics or the identification of subtypes of species in relation to FMT. As the first of many strong abstracts in the session on “Gut microbiome as pathogenic and therapeutic player”, the engraftment or strain sharing events within donors and recipients of FMT were nicely illustrated for different diseases. Interestingly, clinical success of FMT was associated with higher donor strain engraftment, which further improved with multiple routes of delivery and after antibiotics for infectious diseases [4]. Based on these findings, future donor-selection may not only optimize the microbiota composition but also the response after FMT, with specific protocols for different diseases.

During the main microbiome session, Pr. Nicolas Cenac (Toulouse, France) elaborated on the role of bacterial lipopeptides in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. Following evidence of analgesic properties of these metabolites, his group explored the link between stress-induced dysbiosis during pregnancy and the development of colonic visceral hyper- sensitivity (VHS), a hallmark of IBS. He nicely illustrated that prenatal stress induced IBS-like symptoms in mice, with a decrease in Ligilactobacillus murinus, which was associated with VHS. This also led to a lower production of lipopeptides containing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), with reversal of VHS after colonic administration in mice. Pr. Cenac explained how translation in humans was needed and confirmed by lower GABA-lipopeptides in feces of IBS-patients. The microbial metabolites are exciting new players in IBS and were fully published after the congress.[5]

MICROBIOME, MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND IMMUNOTHERAPY

Important abstracts of UEG Week covered the potential factors related to the success of immuno-therapy in melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Dr. Johannes R. Björk (Groningen, The Netherlands) presented changes in the gut microbiome in response to immunotherapy. As one of the Top Abstract awardees, he kicked off the second part of the opening session by showing evidence of baseline gut microbial biomarkers predictive of response. However, he explained that microbiota dynamics over the treatment course are still unexplored. Based on a multi-center cohort study, his longitudinal analysis of repeated stool sampling showed that species from the family Lachnospiraceae increased in responders, while species from the family Bacteroides increased in non-responders. Besides these novel potential targets (e.g., for FMT), the microbiota changes in those affected by immunotherapy-induced colitis may also provide diagnostic markers for the future. Interestingly, the increased butyrate producers in responders suggested a role of fiber degradation. Therefore, the same groups of researchers from the Netherlands and UK focused on the role of dietary intake in a separate analysis. They showed that patients who responded to immunotherapy were more likely to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, which is high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, and fiber. In addition, immunerelated side effects were less likely with intake of whole grains or legumes and more likely with high red and processed meat. Future clinical trials will show whether this translates to treatment benefits for various tumor types, including gastrointestinal cancers.

In conclusion, important and novel findings on microbial strains, metabolites and the role of diet have advanced our understanding of the gut microbiome in disease, while taking important confounders (even in the healthy microbiome) into account.

Sources

1. Falony G, Joossens M, Vieira-Silva S, et al. Population-level analysis of gut microbiome variation. Science (80) 2016; 352: 560-4.
2. Gacesa R, Kurilshikov A, Vich Vila A, et al. Environmental factors shaping the gut microbiome in a Dutch population. Nature 2022; 604: 732-9.
3. Vandeputte D, De Commer L, Tito RY, et al. Temporal variability in quantitative human gut microbiome profiles and implications for clinical research. Nat Commun 2021; 12.
4. Ianiro G, Punčochář M, Karcher N, et al. Variability of strain engraftment and predictability of microbiome composition after fecal microbiota transplantation across different diseases. Nat Med 2022; 28.
5. Petitfils C, Maurel S, Payros G, et al. Identification of bacterial lipopeptides as key players in IBS. Gut 2022; Online ahead of print.

Tags
Gut microbiota Gastroenterology Hepatology Microbiome Flora
    Focus
    Microbiota 17 - December 2022
    • Overview
      • Microbial colonization as a determinant factor for health during the first 1000 days of life
    • Commented article
      • Histamine production by the gut microbiota induces visceral hyperalgesia through histamine 4 receptor signalling in mice
      • Human milk nutrient fortifiers alter the developing gastrointestinal microbiota of very-low-birth-weight infants
    • Focus on
      • The Gut-Brain axis
    • Congress review
      • Highlights from the UEGW
    • Press review
      • Gut Microbiota #17
      • Skin Microbiota #17
    • Expert opinion
      • Impact of beer and non alcoholic beer consumption on the gut microbiota
    Created 17 January 2023
    Updated 23 July 2024

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Gut health

    Medical practice

    Gastroenterology

    Content type

    Congress review
    The Gut-Brain axis
    Gut Microbiota #17
    Focus

    Microbiota 17 - December 2022

    Overview

    Microbial colonization as a determinant factor for health during the first 1000 days of life

    Commented article

    Histamine production by the gut microbiota induces visceral hyperalgesia through histamine 4 receptor signalling in mice Human milk nutrient fortifiers alter the developing gastrointestinal microbiota of very-low-birth-weight infants

    Focus on

    The Gut-Brain axis

    Congress review

    Highlights from the UEGW

    Press review

    Gut Microbiota #17 Skin Microbiota #17

    Expert opinion

    Impact of beer and non alcoholic beer consumption on the gut microbiota
    Gastroenterology
    Actu PRO : Malnutrition : agir sur le microbiote pour améliorer la croissance, un prototype à l’essai
    08.07.2021

    Malnutrition: acting on the microbiota in order to improve growth, a trial prototype

    Read the article
    07.05.2025

    The microbial-metabolic nexus in colon cancer

    Read the article
    07.02.2025

    Your functional dyspepsia diagnosis check list

    Read the article
    17.04.2025

    Sensitivity to the additive E466: the role of the microbiota

    Read the article
    Photo HCPs: Clinical context over quick fix: the fresh consensus on microbiome testing
    11.04.2025

    Clinical context over quick fix: the fresh consensus on microbiome testing

    Read the article
    22.11.2023

    Is vaginal microbiota transfer the new miracle for C-section babies?

    Read the article
    Actu PRO : Alcoolisme : expliquer les troubles sociaux grâce au microbiote
    27.01.2021

    Alcoholism: explaining social disorders thanks to the microbiota

    Read the article

    Association between fungal dysbiosis and environment

    The fungal portion of the gut microbiota (or mycobiota) has been much less studied than the bacterial...

    Find out more
    • Our publications
      • News
      • Microbiota Mag
      • Thematic pages
      • Experts' point of view
      • Thematic folders
      • Overviews - Microbiota Magazine
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships
    • Congresses
      • Congress calendar
      • Congress reviews
    • Continuing Medical Education
      • Accrediting courses
    • Useful documents
      • How to talk about
      • Infographics
      • IBS Diagnosis Check List
      • Patients Stories

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Lay public section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Gastroenterology
    Gynecology
    Pediatrics
    General Medicine
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Russian
    • Portuguese

    Browse the site

    • Our publications
      • News
      • Microbiota Mag
      • Thematic pages
      • Experts' point of view
      • Thematic folders
      • Overviews - Microbiota Magazine
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships
    • Congresses
      • Congress calendar
      • Congress reviews
    • Continuing Medical Education
      • Accrediting courses
    • Useful documents
      • How to talk about
      • Infographics
      • IBS Diagnosis Check List
      • Patients Stories

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Lay public section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Discover

    Gastroenterology
    Gynecology
    Pediatrics
    General Medicine

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

    Lay public section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Redirection

    You are about to be redirected and leave our website

    • Be redirected
    • Stay on the Biocodex Microbiota Institute's website

    Stay with us !

    Join the Microbiota Community of HCPs and researchers and receive “Microbiota Digest” and "Microbiota Mag" to stay up to date on the latest news about microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    Explore

    14.05.2025

    Towards worldwide redefinition of healthy vaginal microbiota

    Read the article
    07.05.2025

    The microbial-metabolic nexus in colon cancer

    Read the article
    02.05.2025

    A new lens on chlamydia: beyond behavior, into the microbiome

    Read the article

    Stay updated

    Join the Microbiota Community of HCPs and researchers and receive “Microbiota Digest” and "Microbiota Mag" to stay up to date on the latest news about microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    • Our publications
      • News
      • Microbiota Mag
      • Thematic pages
      • Experts' point of view
      • Thematic folders
      • Overviews - Microbiota Magazine
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships
    • Congresses
      • Congress calendar
      • Congress reviews
    • Continuing Medical Education
      • Accrediting courses
    • Useful documents
      • How to talk about
      • Infographics
      • IBS Diagnosis Check List
      • Patients Stories

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Lay public section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Discover

    Gastroenterology
    Gynecology
    Pediatrics
    General Medicine

    Lay public section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

    © 2025 Biocodex. All rights reserved.

    • Legal notice
    • GTU
    • Data protection policy
    • Sitemap
    • Cookies settings
    • Digital accessibility : partially compliant
    Biocodex logo