Research continues on the underlying factors that affect the risk of appearance of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Some studies have suggested that changes to the composition of the gut microbiota - the collected bacteria that reside in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract - might show some involvement.
A new study* (open-access) modelling one IBD - Crohn's disease - in mice suggested that there may be a causal role for gut bacteria dysbiosis (alterations in the patterns of bacteria present in the GI tract) in the development of inflammation in parts of the gut. The findings require replication more relevant to humans but strengthen the idea that gut bacteria might be involved in the risk of developing IBDs.
* Schaubeck M. Dysbiotic gut microbiota causes transmissible Crohn's disease-like ileitis independent of failure in antimicrobial defence. Gut. 2015 Apr 17. pii: gutjnl-2015-309333.