Probiotic bacteria could help treat Crohn's disease

American Society for Microbiology ^ | March 31, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

New research suggests that infection with a probiotic strain of E. coli bacteria could help treat an reduce the negative effects of another E. coli infection that may be associated with Crohn's disease. Researchrs from the University of Auckland, New Zealand publish their results in the April 2011 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Crohn's disease is a common chronic disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract and is believed to develop as a result of an aberrant immune response to intestinal microbes in a genetically susceptible host. Over the last decade, high levels of adherent invasive E. coli (AIEC) have been reported. One study isolated the bacteria in 36% of Crohn's sufferers compared to just 6% of controls.

Since Crohn's disease is a clinical subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and others have reported successful treatment of IBC with the probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), the researchers investigated the impact EcN might have on an already established infection with AIEC in cell cultures mimicking those found in the lining of the intestines.

They found that treatment with EcN not only helped prevent the AIEC reference strain LF82 from invading the cells and establishing infection, it also appears to modulate production of immune proteins that cause inflammation.

"This study is the first to our knowledge to show that EcN can reduce some of the negative effects associated with the strain LF82 in an already established AIEC infection and emphasizes the potential of EcN in IBD treatment. In particular the use of this probiotic could be of interest in CD patients harboring pathogenic AIEC," write the researchers.

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The American Society for Microbiology, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the largest single life science association, with 40,000 members worldwide. Its members work in educational, research, industrial, and government settings on issues such as the environment, the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, laboratory and diagnostic medicine, and food and water safety. The ASM's mission is to gain a better understanding of basic life processes and to promote the application of this knowledge for improved health and economic and environmental well-being.

[decimon]

Ping

[Paleo Conservative]

I’m sure the trial lawyers won’t tell you about that. They’re busy suing Roche claiming that Accutane causes Crohn’s disease.

[afnamvet]

Hopefully these types of studies result in meaningful new treatments for Crohn’s sufferers. Going on 40 years with his disease.

[afnamvet]

his= this

[kara37]

I have a friend that swears that drinking raw milk has cured him. He heard it on some show and searched everywhere to find someone that sold it.

You can sell it in my state as long as you say that it's not for human consumption. However, some states don't allow raw milk sold at all. There are even people that rent shares in cows just to get it.

[bishop22]

Anyone know where I could purchase this probiotic? anyone know of any side effects? Thanks for the post, a friend of mine has Chron’s.

[decimon]

Do a search on Mutaflor.

[wtd]

"Mutaflor" is a probiotic which containsEscherichia Coli Nissle 1917 probiotic which is said to be beneficial to those suffering from Crohns Science Daily link

[neverdem]

Micro ping - Ulcerative Colitis is Crohn's Disease partner under the rubric of inflammatory bowel disease. This E. Coli Nissle 1917 has a history going back to the trenches of World War I. Check this first link.

Mutaflor - Probiotics and Ulcerative Colitis

The Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 Reduces Pathogen Invasion and Modulates Cytokine Expression in Caco-2 Cells Infected with Crohn's Disease-Associated E. coli LF82

[webstersII]

Isn’t E. Coli what makes humans sick?

How do they make a strain of it that’s beneficial?

[Wonder Warthog]

"How do they make a strain of it that’s beneficial?"

I suspect that it is a naturally occurring strain of E.Coli. Different populations of bacteria, even of the same species, can have radically different characteristics.

[neverdem]

Isn’t E. Coli what makes humans sick?

Only some types of E. Coli are pathogenic.

How do they make a strain of it that’s beneficial?

It wasn't made. It was discovered by Alfred Nissle in 1917 during a Shigellosis outbreak. If you check the first link in comment# 10, then you'll find:

Listen up - this supplement contains E. coli Nissle 1917, a probiotic with a long and interesting history. Back during WW1, when Shigellosis was make life in the trenches a living hell, one soldier was unscathed. Shigellosis is a particularly nasty type of diarrhea with cramp, vommitting and bloody faeces.

This interested microbiologist Alfred Nissle who studied the stools of more soldiers than any one man should have to and declared that the reason this one soldier was immune to the bloody thunderbolt tearing through the bowels of his comrades was because a useful bacteria named E. coli Nissle 1917 had set up home in his colon.

[webstersII]

Thanks for the info.

[webstersII]

Among all the horrors of trench warfare, I didn’t realize they had to put up with the ‘bloody thunderbolt’ as well. Poor b@stards.

Thanks for the info.