Bowel disorders
An international team of researchers found evidence that suggests certain types of oral bacteria may cause or exacerbate bowel disorders. In study, the researchers test the impact of introducing bacteria found in the mouths of humans to mice models.
Researchers suggest that the work might one day lead to the development of new kinds of treatments for common bowel disorders.
Bowel disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease can cause serious degradation to quality of life, and in some cases, can even deadly. For that reason, medical scientists search for answers surrounding their causes and ways to treat them. In this new effort, the researchers finding a possible link between bacteria that live in the mouth and common bowel disorders.
The researchers report that patients with one of the three main types of bowel disorders also had higher than normal levels of oral bacteria in their feces, suggesting higher levels in their guts. Suspecting there may be a link, the group conducted several experiments to help them learn more about the connection between the two types of bacteria.
Human saliva
In the first experiment, the researchers introduced human saliva from people with Crohn’s disease into the guts of mice with a sterilized gut microbiome. Doing so, they found, led to gut inflammation in some cases. A closer look revealed the bacteria responsible for the inflammation Klebsiella pneumoniae, a strain found in the human mouth, but seldom in the gut.
In another experiment, the researchers introduced the bacteria directly into the intestines of healthy mice and found no problems. Giving the mice Klebsiella-resistant antibiotics once again caused inflammation when Klebsiella introduce. Other experiments with saliva from colitis patients offered similar results.
The results suggest a link between the oral bacteria and bowel disorders more work required to prove the case, but if it turns out to be true, a future treatment for such disorders may include giving patients oral disinfectants.
More information: [Science]
