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Gut 53:1-4 doi:10.1136/gut.53.1.1
  • Leading article

Dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel disease

  1. C P Tamboli1,
  2. C Neut2,
  3. P Desreumaux3,
  4. J F Colombel3
  1. 1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
  2. 2Laboratoire de Bacteriologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille and INSERM EPI0114, CHU Lille, France
  3. 3Service d’Hepatogastroenterologie, Hopital Huriez and INSERM EPI0114, CHU Lille, France
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr C P Tamboli
    Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 4544 JCP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; cyrus-tamboliuiowa.edu
  • Accepted 16 September 2003

Abstract

Abundant data have incriminated intestinal bacteria in the initiation and amplification stages of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, the precise role of intestinal bacteria remains elusive. One theory has suggested a breakdown in the balance between putative species of “protective” versus “harmful” intestinal bacteria—this concept has been termed “dysbiosis”. Arguments in support of this concept are discussed.

Footnotes

    Responses to this article

    • Weaning/Post-weaning dysbiosis: standardization of assay of dysbiosis is required
      • Rajendra P Deolankar
      Gut published online April 21, 2004
    • Author's reply
      • Cyrus P Tamboli,
      • C Neut, P Desreumaux, and J F Colombel
      Gut published online April 7, 2004
    • Dysbiosis as a prerequisite for IBD
      • Andrew Szilagyi
      Gut published online March 1, 2004