Besides the brain, the gastrointestinal tract has the highest number of neurons in the entire body. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is often referred to as the second brain as it commands all manner of intestinal function, from nutrient absorption to defecation control. In patients suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the ENS undergoes major […]
Knowledge of the intestinal microbiota has transformed medical science, but not the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The microbiota is difficult to use clinically because current analytical methods provide outputs that are too complex to provide useful data during an acute IBD flare. To solve these issues, we have developed a novel methodology, ‘MicFly’ […]
The bacteria in the human colon can influence gastrointestinal lining cells [intestinal epithelial cells (IECs)] and immune cells within the intestines and throughout the body. One way that bacteria do this is through their metabolites, the chemicals they produce. By influencing IECs and immune cells, gut bacterial metabolites affect resistance and susceptibility to Inflammatory Bowel […]
Inappropriate and chronic inflammatory responses underly the development of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. This process is an intertwined, inter-cellular cascade among diverse immune cells and tissue stroma. The interactions between immune and stromal cells not only propagate inflammatory responses but also regulate resolution of inflammation. Yet, we do […]
The human gut microbiome has a profound impact on gut immunity in health and disease. Host-microbe interactions play a key role in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Microbial-induced immune pathways are plausible targets for intervention in IBD. Protists are unicellular organisms that commonly inhabit the human gut. Presently, the most […]
Despite medical advances, a significant proportion of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients are resistant to therapies, with CD4 T cells being consistently activated. Analysis of inflamed tissues from a cohort of refractory IBD patients reveals an enrichment of metabolism gene transcripts in CD4 T cells. Exploring the mechanisms, our preliminary data demonstrate that several proinflammatory […]
Gut inflammation alters the bacterial communities in the gut (the microbiome), and these disruptions are thought to make inflammation even worse. Understanding and derailing this cycle could provide new avenues for IBD therapy. Although we know that inflammation can change “who’s there” in the gut microbiome, this project will determine whether harder-to-measure changes within the […]
Fat tissues are known to regulate the storage and release of fatty acids. However, their role in the context of intestinal inflammation remains largely unclear. Interestingly, abdominal fat tissue expands in many Crohn’s disease patients engulfing parts of the inflamed intestine. This has recently been associated with the promotion of pro-repair mechanism helping to heal […]
In 1848, a German philosopher, Ludwig Feuerbach, first used the phrase “We are what we eat.” This famous statement is particularly true in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) where a western diet lacking in plant derived components is a well-recognised risk factor. However, we still do not understand how the food we eat can contribute to […]
