Colitis

An artist's impression of probiotic bacteria wearing nanoparticle "backpacks" to help them fight inflammatory bowel diseases

Medical

Nanoparticle backpacks help probiotics fight inflammatory bowel disease

Probiotic bacteria can’t help improve gut health if they don’t survive to the intestines. Scientists have now kitted out good bugs with protective armor and backpacks loaded with molecules that can help them treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Scientists have engineered a protein that shows promise in helping prevent autoimmune diseases

Medical

Engineered protein calms immune cells to prevent autoimmune diseases

Our immune system can unfortunately go rogue and attack healthy tissues. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have now engineered a protein that may help prevent these autoimmune diseases by boosting the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs).

New research has shown low-calorie diets increase levels of a bacterium called Clostridioides difficile, found in high levels in patients suffering from gut inflammation

Science

Pathogenic gut bacteria linked to weight loss from low-calorie diet

A new study investigating how a low-calorie diet alters gut microbial populations is reporting unexpected results, finding a strange relationship between extreme caloric restriction and increased levels of a bacteria linked to inflammatory bowel disease.

A new study upends the conventional hypothesis that cannabis helps Crohn's disease by reducing inflammation in the gut

Medical

Cannabis improves Crohn’s disease symptoms without reducing gut inflammation

The unexplained beneficial effects of cannabis for Crohn's disease sufferers just got stranger with researchers from Israel finding cannabis oil significantly improves patient symptoms yet, unexpectedly, has little effect on reducing gut inflammation.

It may not be much to look at, but it could conceivably spare a child from colitis

Medical

Could tapeworms prevent bowel disease in children?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) isn't good for anyone to have, but it's particularly hard on children – it can cause reduced absorption of nutrients, which can in turn stunt a child's growth. That's why scientists are looking at a better way of treating it … using tapeworms.

These swallowable capsules will allow doctors the ability to measure gas levels inside a patient's stomach and intestines

Science

Gut gases measured by ingestible capsule reveal entirely new immune mechanism

An innovative ingestible capsule, designed to measure gases inside the gut, has just passed phase one human trials. The swallowable sensor could reframe how gastrointestinal disorders are diagnosed as well as offering a new insight into the activity of crucial bacteria in our gut microbiome.

Team members pose with the Moosy 32 eNose

Medical

Stool-sample-sniffin' electronic nose detects diseases

Typically, colon-related illnesses such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are diagnosed via invasive tests. Thanks to a new "electronic nose," however, it may soon be possible to detect such disorders by analyzing a whiff of the patient's feces.

It might not be your favorite thing on the dinner plate, but broccoli's disease-fighting powers just got even stronger

Health & Wellbeing

Need another reason to eat your broccoli? Science just found one

A plate of broccoli has nothing on a bowl of pasta. But before you brush them aside, science has found yet another reason why consuming vegetables is good for us. The information is compelling enough that some people might want to add more green to their plates to help protect their guts.