Fig. 5: Commonly engrafted genes in FMT responders are strain-specific and depleted in IBD patients.

A We searched for genes commonly apparently engrafted in FMT responders in the RefSeq complete bacterial genomes (n = 33,167) database. The number of observed engrafted genes per genome is represented by green bars on the x-axis, while strains with at least 5 engrafted genes are displayed on the y-axis. Bacterial strains are grouped and color-coded on the y-axis according to their family. B To demonstrate the specificity of these genes within a genus, unique engrafted genes are represented on the x-axis and compared across the genomes depicted on the y-axis (shared with A). C Comparison of the number of genes commonly engrafted in responders that were found in healthy individuals (n = 56) and patients with UC (n = 76) and CD (n = CD). We utilized metagenomic reads from a publicly available dataset (PRJNA40007229³⁵) that includes samples from healthy donors and IBD patients to explore the association of these genes with health status. Box plots show the median (center line), interquartile range (IQR) (box bounds), and whiskers extending to the smallest and largest values within 1.5 × IQR, with outliers excluded. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test, both of which were two-sided. D Comparison of the relative abundance of these commonly engrafted genes within the same cohort as (C), using the same statistical analysis.