Altogether, the results from aims 1 and 2 will provide for the first time a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the mucosa-associated microbiota of adult patients with IBS, IBD and CRC in Saudi population. The proposed study will define a microbiota "fingerprint" for Saudi norms, IBS, IBD and CRC. The contribution of virome and the mobile metagenome into these diseases development and/or health maintenance will be assessed for the first time and thus has the potential to reveal new paradigms. In addition, the study of the virome and mobile metagenome will help us to understand the selective forces that could contribute to the alteration and evolution of the microbiota community and thus could have important implications for the treatment of the diseases. Certainly, the work proposed here will pave the way toward future hypothesis-driven research which could lead to the design of therapeutic strategies aimed at manipulating the microbial community.