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Water Bacterium Linked to Chronic Intestinal Disease in China
BEIJING – A common water bacterium, Aeromonas, has been identified as a potential trigger for the progress of chronic intestinal disease in some patients in china, according to new research. The study, conducted by researchers including Professor Penders, reveals the bacterium may initiate immune system responses that ultimately lead to colitis, a chronic inflammation of the colon. This finding offers a crucial insight into the early stages of the disease process, potentially paving the way for preventative strategies.
The research confirms a long-held suspicion among scientists that prior infections can contribute to the onset of intestinal diseases like colitis. Researchers found Aeromonas present in a notable number of patients studied, a surprising revelation given the bacterium’s rarity in the gut of Europeans – found in only 1 percent of gastrointestinal complaints and almost never in healthy individuals. “What is interesting about this study is that it shows what happens before the immune system goes crazy,” Penders stated.
While Aeromonas doesn’t typically establish itself long-term in the European gut,the study suggests its prolonged presence is key to triggering an immune response in macrophages,a type of white blood cell. Penders notes that gut flora composition varies globally, meaning Aeromonas may be a more natural inhabitant of the intestines in other populations.
Despite the findings,Penders believes the bacterium is unlikely to play a similar role in the development of ulcerative colitis in the Netherlands,given its limited presence in the local population. The research focuses specifically on the connection observed in China and highlights the importance of considering regional differences in gut microbiome composition when studying intestinal diseases.
