Open AccessPathological and therapeutic interactions between bacteriophages, microbes and the host in inflammatory bowel disease
Author(s) -
Janka Bábíčková,
Roman Gardlík
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v21.i40.11321
Subject(s) - microbiome , inflammatory bowel disease , pathogenesis , disease , metagenomics , immune system , immunology , dysbiosis , biology , ulcerative colitis , host (biology) , mechanism (biology) , intestinal microbiome , genetic predisposition , medicine , bioinformatics , genetics , gene , pathology , philosophy , epistemology
The intestinal microbiome is a dynamic system of interactions between the host and its microbes. Under physiological conditions, a fine balance and mutually beneficial relationship is present. Disruption of this balance is a hallmark of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whether an altered microbiome is the consequence or the cause of IBD is currently not fully understood. The pathogenesis of IBD is believed to be a complex interaction between genetic predisposition, the immune system and environmental factors. In the recent years, metagenomic studies of the human microbiome have provided useful data that are helping to assemble the IBD puzzle. In this review, we summarize and discuss current knowledge on the composition of the intestinal microbiota in IBD, host-microbe interactions and therapeutic possibilities using bacteria in IBD. Moreover, an outlook on the possible contribution of bacteriophages in the pathogenesis and therapy of IBD is provided.