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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2014; 20(10): 2449-2455
Published online Mar 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2449
Overgrowth of the indigenous gut microbiome and irritable bowel syndrome
William Bye, Naveed Ishaq, Terry D Bolin, Vic M Duncombe, Stephen M Riordan
William Bye, Naveed Ishaq, Terry D Bolin, Vic M Duncombe, Stephen M Riordan, Gastrointestinal and Liver Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
Stephen M Riordan, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
Author contributions: Riordan SM conceived and drafted the manuscript; all authors reviewed the literature and were involved in editing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Stephen M Riordan, Professor, Gastrointestinal and Liver Unit Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia. sriordan@ozemail.com.au
Telephone: +61-2-93823100  Fax: +61-2-93822727
Received: November 1, 2013
Revised: December 30, 2013
Accepted: January 20, 2014
Published online: March 14, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: The majority of the gut microbiota is uncultivable. Use of culture-independent molecular methods, without reliance on traditional microbiological culture techniques, has the potential to determine microbial composition in the small intestine of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Current data concerning culture-based and culture-independent analyses of the small intestinal microbiome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome are considered here.