Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common and potentially life-threatening disease without causative therapeutic options. The composition of the gut microbiome could play a decisive pathophysiological role since AP significantly disrupts the intestinal barrier, triggering a life-threatening inflammatory response syndrome.
In a global, prospective multi-center study with > 25 clinical centers, the scientists are investigating the exact composition of the gut microbiome and derived metabolites in n=700 AP patients at hospital admission using high-resolution sequencing methods. Thus, we hope to identify new biomarkers for early severity prediction of AP, and to distinguish between harmful and potentially protective microorganisms that could be employed for future therapeutic approaches to prevent severe local and systemic inflammation.

Further information here.