Characterizing Protein Biomarkers of Post-infection Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators will characterize and compare protein signatures between groups with and without post-infection irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). From previous Healthy Nevada Project (HNP) participants, at least 60 patients with PI-IBS and 60 healthy controls will undergo additional proteomics testing, age, sex and race/ethnicity-matched healthy. The investigators will use proteomic testing to detect, quantify and characterize serum protein biomarkers and protein signatures, and compare biomarkers and signatures between the patient groups of interest. Serum samples will be analyzed by the Nevada Proteomics Center. Samples will first undergo protein digestion, then peptides are separated using liquid chromatography (LC), mass spectral analysis is performed using an Orbitrap Eclipse mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, San Jose, CA) using data-independent acquisition (DIA). Library generation and data analysis will be performed using Spectronaut software (Biognosys, Schlieren, Switzerland). The Nevada Proteomics Center and Bioinformatics Center will be engaged during the data analyses comparing biomarkers and signatures between the patient groups of interest. This research aim has the potential to add to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of PI-IBS and to create reliable differentiating protein biomarkers to better diagnose PI-IBS.

Detailed Description
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The investigators will characterize and compare protein signatures between groups with and without PI-IBS. From previous HNP participants, at least 60 patients with PI-IBS and 60 healthy controls will be recruited to undergo additional proteomics testing, age, sex and race/ethnicity-matched healthy. The investigators will use proteomic testing to detect, quantify and characterize serum protein biomarkers and protein signatures, and compare biomarkers and signatures between the patient groups of interest. Serum samples will be analyzed by the Nevada Proteomics Center. Samples will first undergo protein digestion, then peptides are separated using liquid chromatography (LC), mass spectral analysis is performed using an Orbitrap Eclipse mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, San Jose, CA) using data-independent acquisition (DIA). Library generation and data analysis will be performed using Spectronaut software (Biognosys, Schlieren, Switzerland). The Nevada Proteomics Center and Bioinformatics Center will be engaged during the data analyses comparing biomarkers and signatures between the patient groups of interest. This research aim has the potential to add to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of PI-IBS and to create reliable differentiating protein biomarkers to better diagnose PI-IBS.

Official Title
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Characterizing Protein Biomarkers of Post-infection Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Conditions
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Post-infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Participants must have a Healthy Nevada Project record and linked Renown Health medical record Must be at least 18 years of age Must have previously consented to being contacted and have updated contact information Exclusion Criteria: -None

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 100 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Post infectious irritable bowel syndrome group<br>Participants will have post-infectious IBS (as identified via Rome IV criteria or previous physician diagnosis) | |
| Healthy control group<br>Participants will not have post-infectious IBS, matched on age group, sex, and race/ethnicity. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rome IV diagnosis of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome | Rome IV is used to diagnose IBS, and participants must additionally have had sudden onset of their IBS with either 1) IBS symptoms developing immediately AFTER foreign travel/deployment or 2) immediately AFTER acute infectious gastroenteritis with two or more of: fever, vomiting, diarrhea | Day 1 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Participant-reported post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome | Participants report that they have been diagnosed with IBS by a physician and that they still have symptoms, and participants must additionally have had sudden onset of their IBS with either 1) IBS symptoms developing immediately AFTER foreign travel/deployment or 2) immediately AFTER acute infectious gastroenteritis with two or more of: fever, vomiting, diarrhea | Day 1 |