IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Deseases), an inflammatory bowel disease represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is an intractable disease of unknown cause that causes chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract.It is said that the number of patients is steadily increasing in Japan as well, and it is expected that the number will continue to increase in the future.However, no radical cure has been established so far.

 On the other hand, previous studies have reported that the intestinal tract of IBD patients is rich in AIEC (Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli).Therefore, this time, an international collaborative research group led by Michigan University, Keio University, and Clermont Auvergne University established the AIEC strain isolated from Crohn's disease patients in the intestinal tract of mice, and expressed genes in the non-inflammatory and inflammatory intestinal tracts. Was compared.

 As a result, in the inflammatory phase of the intestinal tract, AIEC changes its metabolic preference from carbohydrates to amino acids (especially serine), overcoming nutrient competition with competing bacteria such as resident E. coli to give it a growth advantage. I found that I have acquired it.Since the serine concentration in the intestinal tract can be controlled by the intake of dietary amino acids, it is clarified that a low-concentration serine diet can suppress the growth of AIEC and thus improve the pathological condition of enteritis without affecting the host. I made it.

 The findings of this study show that AIEC growth can be suppressed by reducing dietary serine and depriving the intestinal tract of inflammation of the nutrient source of AIEC, which is a safer and more effective next-generation nutrition for IBD patients. Expected to be applied to therapy.In addition, targeting the amino acid metabolic pathway of AIEC identified in this study may lead to the development of new preventive and therapeutic agents for IBD.

Paper information:[Nature Microbiology] Dietary L-serine confers a competitive fitness advantage to Enterobacteriaceae in the inflamed gut

Keio University

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