Provided herein is a method of treating an individual afflicted with an inflammatory bowel disease utilizing Candida abundance as a biomarker of responsiveness. The method comprises determining levels of Candida in a sample from the gastrointestinal tract of an individual, and if the level of Candida is higher than a reference level, identifying the individual as suitable for microbiota transplantation therapy (MTT), and optionally, administering to such an individual the MTT, and in individuals having gastrointestinal tract Candida levels lower than a reference level, increasing the Candida levels prior to prior to administration of MTT.

The present disclosure relates generally to detection of contamination of a sample or diagnosis of subject based upon detection or quantification of amino acid sequences in a sample, specifically to the identification and use of molecular biomarkers for Candida albicans biofilm infections.