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New device minimizes cross-contamination in mucosal biopsies
Recent findings published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics indicate a new device — the Brisbane Aseptic Biopsy Device — can minimize the cross-contamination found in mucosal biopsies.
“Contamination with luminal contents is a potential issue for sampling of the [mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM)],” the researchers wrote. “We thus aimed to develop a device that is suitable to obtain mucosal samples that are not cross-contaminated, resulting in the production of the sheathed and seated [Brisbane Aseptic Biopsy Device (BABD)].”
Many scientists will often sample the mucosa-associated microbiota in order to better understand how host-microbe interactions can cause disease, the researchers wrote. However, the standard biopsy forceps can cross-contaminate one microbiota with another, which limits the researchers’ ability to fully interpret the MAM sample. To minimize contamination, the researchers developed the BABD, a sterile forceps that is encased by a sheath with a plug at the tip.
To validate the new device, the researchers compared it with a standard biopsy forceps and a sterile brush by using them in six patients undergoing an upper GI endoscopy for iron deficiency. The researchers extracted genomic DNA from the samples and used this to sequence bacterial 16S rRNA gene libraries to investigate the MAM.
From the BABD biopsies, the researchers recovered microbial DNA that confirmed the presence of duodenal MAM. This microbiota contained mostly Streptococcus and contained smaller levels of Prevotella, Veillonella and Neisseria. Between each device, they observed a considerable difference among samples. Overall, they observed greater bacterial diversity in samples collected with the standard forceps, indicating the BABD collected samples more representative of the MAM.
Celiac disease and functional GI disorders provide the impetus for better understanding the duodenal microbiota, the researchers wrote.
“The ability to more precisely define the MAM is essential if we are to translate knowledge of the microbiota into diagnostics and therapeutic solutions,” the researchers wrote. “Therefore, the proposed novel approach to obtain uncontaminated intestinal biopsies (utilizing the BABD) combined with the data generated in this study through assessment of the microbiota, form a unique platform through which the microbial community of the duodenal mucosa, or similarly other regions of the GI mucosa, can now be further explored.” – by Will Offit
Disclosure: One researcher reports holding a patent in relation to the Brisbane Aseptic Biopsy Device.