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.
Keywords
inflammatory bowel disease - Crohn disease - ulcerative colitis - intestinal microbiota
- dysbiosis
