Fluoromorphometrics: A New Approach in Characterising Faecal Flora

Using image analysis and quantitative immunofluorescence, three new methods in characterising faecal microflora are presented. These methods are: Morphological analysis of faecal objects, measurement of titres of circulating Ig against faecal antigens and the combination. Morphological analysis is the least sensitive approach, which is only applicable when large fluctuations in the morphological composition of the faecal microflora have to be monitored. Biological fluctuations in titres of circulating Ig against faecal antigens can be performed at a statistically significant level for IgM and IgG and the distribution of titres of circulating IgG over 144 morphological distinct subsets of faecal bacteria yields a unique pattern in a group of ten volunteers