washed fecal microbiota

Washed fecal microbiota (WFM) is a refined microbial suspension derived from healthy donor stool through a standardized, automated purification process. Developed primarily by researchers at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, the preparation involves multiple rounds of washing and centrifugation (often using the GenFMTer system) to remove non-bacterial components such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, metabolites (e.g., leukotrienes, complement), and food debris found in traditional crude fecal microbiota transplants (FMT). By isolating the bacterial fraction, WFM aims to reduce the incidence of acute adverse events, such as fever and abdominal pain, while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. Its mechanism of action involves restoring intestinal microbial diversity, competitive exclusion of enteric pathogens like *Clostridioides difficile*, and modulating the host immune system by inducing regulatory T cells and reducing pro-inflammatory signaling. It is extensively investigated for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), functional gastrointestinal disorders, and various extra-intestinal conditions linked to gut dysbiosis.

Other names

washed microbiotapurified fecal microbiota