Differences in the composition of gut microbiota in health and disease are providing new ways of deciphering mechanisms of digestive diseases, e.g. inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Another way of exploring the role of gut microbiota in health and disease is to monitor the generated metabolites.

Digestive disorders, from gut discomfort to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and cancer, are rising in many countries. Research and clinical studies on the interaction of gut microbiota and digestive health, are providing stimulating data. However, their connection is not fully understood and gut fungi have recently been suggested to play a role as well.

Yava L. Jones-Hall, Ariangela Kozik and Cindy Nakatsu from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, have recently published a paper in PLoS ONE on the role of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and the impact of this pro-inflammatory cytokine on the gut microbiota.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is known for exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo by secreted metabolites that block nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. The low proportion of F. prausnitzii in the microbiome of Crohn’s disease patients characterizes the microbial dysbiosis associated with that condition.

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