Investigating the gut microbiota characteristics in a global comparison between individuals with irritable bowel syndrome and healthy subjects

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder. The symptoms of IBS patients recur or persist, significantly impacting individuals and society. While numerous studies have highlighted the close association between the occurrence and development of IBS and the gut microbiome, literature reviews suggest substantial discrepancies in the prevalence of IBS across different countries and regions, along with noticeable heterogeneity in specific intestinal microorganisms. Therefore, this study aims to utilize large-scale published gut microbiome sequencing data to explore significant regional disparities between IBS patients and healthy controls, seeking to identify potential biomarkers associated with IBS in different countries and regions. This
endeavor seeks to further enhance our understanding of the disease. Through literature search, I have discovered that some published articles have utilized the data from this project when it comes to IBS patients and corresponding healthy control data. 

Therefore, I would like to apply for access to this project in order to expand the sample size, particularly in the European region. Subsequently, I will standardize and analyze this data alongside other collected data to further accomplish my research objectives.