Many genetic factors have been associated with increased IBD susceptibility. However, these only explain a fraction of the disease risk that an individual with such a predisposition experiences. Environmental factors have been proposed to work in combination with host genetics to cause IBD. Diet and the normally beneficial community of bacteria that live in the […]
The human gut is home to trillions of bacteria affecting our health. Even more abundant are viruses that specifically infect these bacteria. These viruses are called bacteriophages and have the ability to control the number and function of the bacteria that live within us. Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or […]
IBD patients have increased chances of developing colorectal cancer. Additionally this specific form of colon cancer is very difficult to treat. Despite numerous efforts we still do not fully understand the relationship between intestinal inflammation and the increased chance for colon cancer development. Understanding this will allow us to develop more specific and targeted prevention […]
The human intestine is home to trillions of bacteria of hundreds of different types, which are collectively referred to as the gut microbiota. Ideally, these microbes exist in a balanced state, where both microbe and man benefit from their presence. However, imbalances in the microbiota, which are referred to as ‘dysbiosis’, have been suggested to […]
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can be a devastating illness. For reasons that are not clear, the cells that line the intestine in patients with IBD mount inappropriate immune responses toward the harmless bacteria that normally inhabit our gastrointestinal tracts. Treatments for IBD therefore involve suppressing immune responses to limit the damage caused by this immune […]
The gastrointestinal tract absorbs nutrients through the intestinal epithelium while controlling the resident bacterial community. A significant increase in the risk for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) is associated with high cholesterol diets; dysbiosis, an imbalanced composition of gut bacteria, is an important hallmark of intestinal inflammation in patients with IBDs. However, the role of dietary […]
Inflammation is an integral part of immune defense against pathogens or tissue damage. However, inappropriate or prolonged inflammation has deleterious consequences and underlies many chronic diseases, especially inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease and colitis. Specialized immune sensors that reside inside the cell cytosol are of particular interest in IBD, because mutations in the […]
Intestinal scarring and thickening, also called fibrosis, afflicts >30% of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients, yet there is no cure and few treatment options. The fundamental processes underlying IBD-fibrosis are unknown, partly due to the absence of relevant animal models. This lack of basic understanding has prevented therapeutic development. Accordingly, our lab has developed a […]
The microbes that colonize the human intestine, collectively known as the gut microbiome, are critical players in many human diseases including IBD. Patients with IBD often have fewer different types of intestinal bacteria and an increase in certain types of bacteria associated with inflammation. In addition to bacteria, there are many viruses that live in […]
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are highly susceptible to gastro-intestinal bacterial pathogens because of aberrant immune responses and therefore rely on frequent antibiotic courses throughout their illness. As a result, IBD prognosis often declines over time due to an increase in recalcitrant organisms that are antibiotic resistant and/or have increased virulence traits. These genetically-encoded […]
