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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
09:49
Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
Published on: October 31, 2019
Prebiotics, probiotics and helminths: the 'natural' solution?
1Digestive System Research Unit, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, ES-08035 Barcelona, Spain. fguarner@vhebron.net
Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 30, 2009
Summary
Manipulating gut microecology with probiotics and prebiotics shows promise for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment, particularly in pouchitis and ulcerative colitis remission. Further research is needed to optimize these therapies for IBD management.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis involves abnormal gut microbial and mucosal immune system communication.
- This dysregulation is a core defect leading to intestinal injury in susceptible individuals.
- Therapeutic manipulation of gut microecology offers potential for IBD control and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of gut microecology in IBD pathogenesis.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of probiotics, prebiotics, and helminths in IBD.
- To identify areas for future research in IBD management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review.
Main Results:
- The gut induces regulatory T cells (e.g., secreting IL-10, TGF-beta) crucial for immune tolerance.
- Gut commensals like lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and helminths promote regulatory T cell induction.
- Probiotics show promise in pouchitis and maintaining ulcerative colitis remission, but results in Crohn's disease are disappointing.
Conclusions:
- The use of probiotics, prebiotics, or helminths requires further research for optimization.
- Targeting gut microecology is a promising strategy for IBD treatment.
- Understanding T cell-mediated regulatory pathways is key to IBD management.
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