Assessment of Microorganisms and Host Response In Liver Diseases
The normal human gut is home to millions of microbes including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively forming the gut microbiota, which exists in harmony within us. Much research is still required to fully understand the contribution of microbes resident in the large intestine in liver diseases. The liver receives blood from the gut carrying all the necessary nutrients needed for our body but also has to deal with toxins derived from the microbes residing in the intestines. The gut microbiota is altered in liver disease. We still do not know clearly how this change impacts liver function and the health of liver patients. The purpose of our study is to answer this question by assessing the gut microbiota using modern microbiological and molecular methods. By studying the alterations in the gut microbiota in patients with liver disease we can understand how they affect our immune system and metabolism. This will help design novel medicinal products to prevent and treat liver disease.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  Willing and able to provide informed consent Definitive diagnosis of specific liver disease utilising clinical, biochemical, and radiological tests Male or female aged between 18-70 years Able to understand written or verbal information in English  Exclusion Criteria:  Pregnancy and breastfeeding Treatment with antibiotics in the last month Treatment with steroids or immunosuppressive drugs in the last month Regular consumption of over-the-counter prebiotics and probiotics from pharmacies or other retailers in the last month. Known gastrointestinal disease, including but not limited to ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, coeliac disease, microscopic colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome Patients diagnosed with cancer who are on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy within the last 3 months - HealthyVolunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 18 Years - MaximumAge: 70 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult - StudyPopulation: Patients in clinics and wards in secondary care. - SamplingMethod: Non-Probability Sample