XXX - Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 / E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) & Crohn’s disease (CD)

Background

The involvement of pathogenic or potentially pathogenic bacteria in the development of inflammatory bowel disease has been suggested for a long time. This is partly because the inflammatory response in these diseases resembles that seen in infectious bowel diseases. Patients with Crohn's disease have been found to have elevated antibody levels to pathogen antigens and altered metabolic activity of the intestinal microflora. Several studies have indicated a possible etiological link between intestinal microorganisms and inflammatory bowel disease. Consequently, various therapeutic strategies have been employed. These include reducing or diluting bacterial components in the intestine through antibiotics or intestinal lavage, inactivating inflammatory bacterial products, and reconstituting the in…