4. FMT beyond CDI
There is enormous interest in exploring the potential of FMT in
conditions
other than CDI, including inflammatory bowel disease,
irritable
bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, autoimmunity, and
autism
[38,39]. All of these conditions are associated with some
degree
of altered microbial composition and activity in the gut.
However,
it is not known whether these changes are causally linked
to
the specific diseases or result from them. Furthermore, it is possible
that maladaptive host-microbial interactions have already
hard-wired
undesirable host physiology. For example, animal studies
suggest
altered
immune system development in a germ-free
host
leads to pathological immune responsiveness despite later
conventionalization
[40]
.