The most prominent theory describes the Crohn's Syndrome as a dysregulated, inappropriate immune response to otherwise innocuous bowel flora in a genetically susceptible host. The autoimmune theory assumes that a specific infectious agent does not exist. Data from mouse models, impairment of the mucosal epithelial barrier and the influence of gut flora are used to support the autoimmune theory....

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a technique used to restore the normal body flora to the gut in cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). It involves instillation of the stool of a healthy donor through a nasogastric tube or colonoscopy into the gastrointestinal tract of the patient. More research is needed to determine the parameters of FMT use in patients with cancer.

A 35-year-old man was found to have a cerebral abscess secondary to a recurrent sigmoid diverticular abscess. Both cultures grew Streptococcus anginosus. Brain abscess is a rare but potential complication of sigmoid diverticulitis. Streptococcus anginosus, which is found in human gut flora, is a common cause of brain abscess.

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) 3-producing Escherichia coli was isolated from a carrier of KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae. The KPC-3 plasmid was identical in isolates of both species. The patient's gut flora contained a carbapenem-susceptible E. coli strain isogenic with the KPC-3-producing isolate, which suggests horizontal interspecies plasmid transfer.

INTRODUCTION — Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) is one of the most common hospitalacquired (nosocomial) infections, and is an increasingly frequent cause of morbidity and mortality among elderly hospitalized patients. C. difficile colonizes the human intestinal tract after the normal gut flora has been altered by antibiotic therapy and is the causative organism of antibiotic-asso...

Probiotic supplements transform the intestinal microbial flora and enhancing gut and immune function. The intestinal microbial flora the gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria are integral to the protection of the body from infection, and maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. The microbial flora with intestinal epithelial cells and immune tract, skin and uro-genital tract. The exercise highlig...

Because of the anatomical position and its unique vascular system, the liver is susceptible to the exposure to the microbial products from the gut. Although large amount of microbes colonize in the gut, translocation of the microbes or microbial products into the liver and systemic circulation is prevented by gut epithelial barrier function and cleansing and detoxifying functions of the liver i...

The gut-brain axis has been described as a bi-directional neuro-humeral communication system and is implicated in the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recent work has shown that a subset of patients with IBS show evidence of low grade immune activation and inflammation in the colonic mucosa. This review focuses on the role of the inte...

The human gut is a lush microbial ecosystem containing about 100 trillion microorganisms, whose collective genome, the microbiome, contains 100-fold more genes than the entire human genome. The symbiosis of our extended genome plays a role in host homeostasis and energy extraction from diet. In this article, we summarize some of the studies that have advanced the understanding of the microbiome...

Gut inflammation occurring in patients with IBDs (inflammatory bowel diseases) is associated with exaggerated and poorly controlled T-cell-mediated immune responses, which are directed against normal components of the gut flora. T-cells accumulate in the inflamed gut of IBD patients as a result of multiple mechanisms, including enhanced recruitment of cells from the bloodstream, sustained cell ...