Virus-induced alteration of intestinal motility as a predisposing factor for IBD.

Patients with IBD most commonly suffer from diarrhea. However, some IBD subjects also experience bouts of constipation as well. We propose that viral infections that humans acquire through insect bites (mosquitos and ticks) can infect cells that innervate the intestines and control bowel movements. We found that the immune system recognizes these infected cells and kills them, leading to damage in the innervation of the intestine, in turn leading to greatly slowed intestinal movements. Our goal for this proposal is to uncover how this abnormal gut movement plays a role in intestinal recovery from inflammation and damage (as occurs in IBD), test if host genetic mutations enhance the susceptibility to virally-induced abnormal intestinal movement and determine the method by which these viruses cause defects in gut movement. For the last point, our idea is that alterations in the population of intestinal microbes are the mediators of slowed bowel movements.