FIG 3.

Comparison of gut bacterial communities between groups based on the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). No differences were noted when using the 16S rRNA gene ASV pipeline. The Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix was calculated after rarefying the ASV table of each sample to have 7,500 reads/sample evenly. Principal coordinate analysis was performed on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarities, and the two major principal coordinates are displayed in the plots. Statistical significance of the separations between subject groups was tested pairwise with 999 permutations, using permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) (Adonis). (A) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients (n = 19) versus healthy controls (n = 24). (B) Patients morbid above a year (n = 9) versus those below a year (n = 10). (C) IBS patients with diarrhea (n = 10) versus those without diarrhea (n = 9). (D) Calprotectin levels (n = 5) versus below (n = 13) 50 mg/kg. N.OTU, number of OTU; D+, IBS with diarrhea; D−, IBS without diarrhea; PCO1, Principal coordinate 1; PCO2, Principal coordinate 2.