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 […]
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects women during their reproductive years and 25% become pregnant after an initial diagnosis of IBD. New data suggest that babies are born not-sterile, and bacteria, also known as microbiome, are passed from the pregnant mother to the fetus in the womb. The make-up of these initial bacteria significantly contributes to […]
The intestinal microbiota is the collective term used to described the microbial community living in our intestine and playing important roles. However, the intestinal microbiota is also playing a central role in the development of many chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We previously reported, in mice, that the consumption of dietary emulsifiers, […]
The incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease is increasing worldwide in lockstep with modernization and worldwide ‘Westernization’ of lifestyles. One of the most important aspects of Westernization for human health is the adoption of a diet high in fat and sugar and low in fiber. Relatively little is known about how dietary sugar specifically affects the […]
The gut is composed of many cell types that contribute to its complex functions and ability to adapt to changing conditions associated with diet, lifestyles and the environment. Each of these factors can affect the health of the gut and contribute to intestinal disease such as inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal discomfort and pain. Many […]
To gain insight into IBD mechanisms and to improve the development of new therapeutics, an understanding of how genetic factors modulate intestinal homeostasis is required. We propose to model human IBD pathogenesis using gene editing in human embryonic stem cell-derived organoids to generate lines carrying mutations associated with IBD susceptibility. First, we will establish human […]
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 […]
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 […]
