Microbiome science in fecal microbiota transplantation for inflammatory bowel disease: a WoSCC-centered, three-database bibliometric and knowledge-mapping analysis, 2000–2025
Abstract
BackgroundFecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an ecosystem-level microbiome intervention for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but bibliometric findings depend on indexing systems.ObjectiveTo map the development and thematic evolution of FMT–IBD research from 2000 to 2025 and identify recurrent macro-level patterns across the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), Scopus, and PubMed.MethodsAfter single-reviewer eligibility screening and within-database deduplication, 1,689 WoSCC, 2,697 Scopus, and 1,533 PubMed records were included. WoSCC served as the core analytical dataset, whereas Scopus and PubMed were parallel descriptive comparators; the datasets were not pooled or matched at record level. R/bibliometrix supported performance analysis, VOSviewer mapped database-specific term co-occurrence, and CiteSpace identified cited-reference and keyword bursts.ResultsMore than 94% of records in each database were indexed during 2015–2025. All three sources showed rapid growth, China and the United States as the leading corresponding-author countries, a multidisciplinary journal base, and recurring themes centered on FMT, IBD, ulcerative colitis, dysbiosis, and the gut microbiome. Detailed rankings remained source dependent. The cited knowledge base shifted from recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection efficacy and procedural standardization toward IBD trials, biosafety, formulations, strain engraftment, and microbiota–immune–metabolic mechanisms.ConclusionFMT–IBD research increasingly emphasizes strain-aware, function-oriented, and biosafety-conscious microbiome intervention. These patterns map the indexed literature and do not demonstrate that precision microbiome intervention has been achieved. Priorities include functional multi-omics, reproducible pipelines, biologically informed donor–recipient matching, and rigorous biosafety surveillance.
Related
- Acceptability of probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and emerging microbiome-derived therapies in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: A cross-sectional Survey Study
- Current status of research on fecal microbiota transplantation in the postoperative management of inflammatory bowel disease
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- Integrated microbiome and metabolomic analysis reveals associations between vaginal microbiota composition and psychological profiles
- From maternal microbial transmission to neonatal gut microbiota restoration: the potential and challenges of maternal fecal microbiota transplantation
BibTeX
@article{liu2026microbiome,
title = {{Microbiome science in fecal microbiota transplantation for inflammatory bowel disease: a WoSCC-centered, three-database bibliometric and knowledge-mapping analysis, 2000–2025}},
author = {Zheng Liu and Weijiu Mo and Jingrong Liang and Liwei Li and Shikai Liu and Hengyuan Xu and Huaqiang Ruan and Chenghai Liang and Jiamin Qin and Li Yao and Sufan Tang and Zhiliang Chen and Fuqing Cai and Jun Zou and Liying Lin and Miaofang Li and Jinxiu Zhang and Peng Peng and Jiean Huang},
journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1948431},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1948431},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Microbiome science in fecal microbiota transplantation for inflammatory bowel disease: a WoSCC-centered, three-database bibliometric and knowledge-mapping analysis, 2000–2025
AU - Zheng Liu
AU - Weijiu Mo
AU - Jingrong Liang
AU - Liwei Li
AU - Shikai Liu
AU - Hengyuan Xu
AU - Huaqiang Ruan
AU - Chenghai Liang
AU - Jiamin Qin
AU - Li Yao
AU - Sufan Tang
AU - Zhiliang Chen
AU - Fuqing Cai
AU - Jun Zou
AU - Liying Lin
AU - Miaofang Li
AU - Jinxiu Zhang
AU - Peng Peng
AU - Jiean Huang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1948431
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1948431
AB - BackgroundFecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an ecosystem-level microbiome intervention for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but bibliometric findings depend on indexing systems.ObjectiveTo map the development and thematic evolution of FMT–IBD research from 2000 to 2025 and identify recurrent macro-level patterns across the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), Scopus, and PubMed.MethodsAfter single-reviewer eligibility screening and within-database deduplication, 1,689 WoSCC, 2,697 Scopus, and 1,533 PubMed records were included. WoSCC served as the core analytical dataset, whereas Scopus and PubMed were parallel descriptive comparators; the datasets were not pooled or matched at record level. R/bibliometrix supported performance analysis, VOSviewer mapped database-specific term co-occurrence, and CiteSpace identified cited-reference and keyword bursts.ResultsMore than 94% of records in each database were indexed during 2015–2025. All three sources showed rapid growth, China and the United States as the leading corresponding-author countries, a multidisciplinary journal base, and recurring themes centered on FMT, IBD, ulcerative colitis, dysbiosis, and the gut microbiome. Detailed rankings remained source dependent. The cited knowledge base shifted from recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection efficacy and procedural standardization toward IBD trials, biosafety, formulations, strain engraftment, and microbiota–immune–metabolic mechanisms.ConclusionFMT–IBD research increasingly emphasizes strain-aware, function-oriented, and biosafety-conscious microbiome intervention. These patterns map the indexed literature and do not demonstrate that precision microbiome intervention has been achieved. Priorities include functional multi-omics, reproducible pipelines, biologically informed donor–recipient matching, and rigorous biosafety surveillance.
SN - 1664-302X
ER -