Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Intestinal Microbiota

Abstract Not surprisingly given the close proximity of the intestinal microflora to the intestinal mucosa, members of the intestinal flora are implicated in the development of chronic intestinal conditions known as the inflammatory bowel diseases. This group of conditions is principally composed of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. While perturbations in the balance of the members of the intestinal microflora are well characterized, it remains unclear if this so-called dysbiosis is critical to the development and onset of the inflammatory bowel diseases. Other evidence indicates that specific organisms may trigger or initiate inflammation. The advent of new molecular tools has advanced our understanding, but here remain many important unanswered questions.