The Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP)- Comprehensive panel of microbial targets, immune and digestive markers

The Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) was designed to assess a patient’s microbiome from a single stool sample, with particular attention to microbes that may be disturbing normal microbial balance and may contribute to perturbations in the gastrointestinal (GI) flora or illness.

The panel is a comprehensive collection of microbial targets as well as immune and digestive markers, and relies exclusively on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology to detect parasites, bacteria, fungi, and more by targeting the specific DNA of the organisms tested.

Zonulin has been identified as a key biomarker for intestinal permeability, which has been associated with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and other GI and systemic conditions.

Indications

• Autoimmune molecular mimicry (if caused by pathogens)
• Diarrhea
• Digestion
• Foodborne illness
• Gastritis
• Gastroenteritis (if it has viral causes)
• Gut dysbiosis
• Immunity
• Inflammation
• Leaky gut
• Celiac disease / gluten sensitivity
• Suspected bacterial, parasitic or viral pathogenesis (incl. detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria)

Overview

The Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) was designed to assess a patient’s microbiome from a single stool sample, with particular attention to microbes that may be disturbing normal microbial balance and may contribute to perturbations in the gastrointestinal (GI) flora or illness. The panel is a comprehensive collection of microbial targets as well as immune and digestive markers. It screens for pathogenic bacteria, commensal bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, fungi, viruses, and parasites. It primarily uses multiplex, automated, DNA analysis to give integrative and functional medicine practitioners a better view into the gastrointestinal microbiome. Zonulin has been identified as a key biomarker for intestinal permeability, which has been associated with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and other GI and systemic conditions.

Methodology

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)

Analytes

BACTERIAL PATHOGENS

• Campylobacter
• C. difficile Toxin A
• C. difficile Toxin B
• Enterohemorrhagic E. coli
• E. coli O157
• Enteroinvasive E. coli/Shigella
• Enterotoxigenic E. coli LT/ST
• Shiga-like Toxin E. coli stx1
• Shiga-like Toxin E. coli stx2
• Salmonella
• Vibro cholerae
• Yersinia enterocolitica
• H. pylori
  • Virulence Factor, babA
  • Virulence Factor, cabA
  • Virulence Factor, cabPAI
  • Virulence Factor, dupA
  • Virulence Factor, iceA
  • Virulence Factor, opiA
  • Virulence Factor, vacA

PARASITIC PATHOGENS

• Cryptosporidium
• Entamoeba histolytica
• Giardia

VIRAL PATHOGENS

• Adrenovirus 40/41
• Norovirus GI
• Norovirus GII

NORMAL/COMMENSAL BACTERIA

• Akkermansia Mucinophilia
• Bacteroides fragilis
• Bifidobacterium spp.
• Clostridia (class)
• Enterobacter spp.
• Enterococcus spp.
• Escherichia spp.
• Faecalbacterium prausnitzii
• Lactobacillus spp.

BACTERIAL PHYLA

• Bacteroidetes
• Firmicutes
• Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio

ADDITIONAL DYSBIOTIC/OVERGROWTH BACTERIA

• Bacillus spp.
• Enterococcus faecalis
• Enterococcus faecium
• Methanobacteriaceae (family)
• Morganella spp.
• Pseudomonas spp.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Staphylococcus spp.
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus spp.

POTENTIAL AUTOIMMUNE TRIGGERS

• Citrobacter spp.
• Citrobacter freundii
• Fusobacterium spp.
• Klebsiella spp.
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis
• Prevotella spp.
• Proteus spp.
• Proteus mirabilis

FUNGI/YEAST

• Candida albicans
• Candida spp.
• Geotricum spp.
• Microsporidia spp.
• Rhodoturula spp.

OPPORTUNISTIC VIRUSES

• CMV- Cytomegalovirus
• EBV- Epstein Bar Virus

Parasites & worms:

PROTOZOA

• Blastocystis hominis
• Chilomastix mesnelli
• Cyclospora spp.
• Dientamoeba fragilis
• Endolimax nana
• Entamoeba coli
• Pentatrichomonas hominis

WORMS

• Ancyclostroma duodenale
• Ascaris lumbricoides
• Necator americanis
• Trichuris trichiura
• Taenia spp.

Intestinal health markers:

DIGESTION

• Elastase-1
• Steatocrit

IMMUNE RESPONSE

• SIgA
• Anti-gliadin SIgA

INFLAMMATION

• Calprotectin

GI MARKERS

• ß-Glucuronidase
• Occult Blood - FIT

ZONULIN

Antibiotic resistance genes (Optional add-on):

Phenotypes | HELOBACTER

• Amoxicillen
• Clarithromycin
• Fluroquinolines
• Tetracycline

Specimen

Stool sample 

Container

• 1x orange-capped stool vial

Patient preparation

• Please refrain from taking aspirin for two days prior to collecting your sample.
• Never discontinue prescription medication without first consulting your physician.

Age requirements

Can be used on all ages. However, often the microbiome of infants will appear very “dysbiotic”, as the microbiome and the infant’s immune system is very immature.

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See also Brochure under ‘Downloadable files’ for even more research.