Crohn's Disease
Researchers led by Helmholtz Munich report that some gut-dwelling bacteria — including strains not typically considered harmful — possess syringe-like molecular machinery that can deliver bacterial proteins into human cells, affecting immune and metabolic signaling. The work also links these bacterial “effector” genes to Crohn’s disease–associated microbiome patterns, though the authors say more studies are needed to determine how the mechanism influences disease.
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Researchers have developed a blood test that detects an elevated immune response to gut bacteria, signaling the risk of Crohn's disease years before symptoms appear. The test, focusing on antibodies to flagellin from Lachnospiraceae bacteria, was identified through a study of healthy relatives of Crohn's patients. This discovery could enable earlier interventions to prevent the condition's progression.