Enteric microflora

Sartor RB Therapeutic manipulation of the enteric microflora in inflammatory bowel diseases Antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics. Gastroenterology 2004 126 1620-1633. 

Although the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear, increasing evidence suggests that the enteric microflora plays a central role in this process. The distal ileum and the colon are the areas with the highest bacterial concentrations and represent the sites of inflammation in IBD similarly pouchitis appears to be associated with bacterial overgrowth and dysbiosis. 

Taken together these experimental and clinical observations support the hypothesis that there is no gut inflammation without bacteria, and that the manipulation of enteric microflora may represent a possible therapeutic approach in IBD. 

Sartor RB Enteric microflora in IBD Pathogens or commensal Inflamm Bowel Dis 1997 3 230-235. 

Decreased gastric acidity (antacids, acid-inhibitors), lack in personal hygiene, decreased intestinal motility (opiates, antiperistaltic agents), a disturbed enteric microflora and malnutrition are risk factors for a GTI. In contrast, breast-feeding reduces GTI incidence in infants. 

The columnar epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa actively absorb and secrete extracellular ions, nutrients, and water. The active secretion of ions by these cells with an accompanying fluid flux acts to dilute and purge microorganisms or toxins in the bowel promotes the transfer of secretory immunoglobulin A, antimicrobial defensin peptides, and mucin into intestinal mucus and the gut lumen and, by affecting intraluminal pH, may alter the growth characteristics of enteric microflora [121]. Mucosal secretion is modulated by several enteric neurotransmitters, as well as inflammatory mediators released by mucosal mast cells that may affect transport indirectly through their ability to stimulate enteric neurons [122],... 

C3H/HeJBir— greatly influenced by housing conditions and enteric microflora... 

Enteric bacteria have been found to differ with respect to the ability to become integrated into the endophytic microflora of alfalfa roots (Dong et al., 2001). A strain isolated from maize, Klebsiella pneumoniae 342, colonizes the interior of several host plants in higher numbers compared to... 

Inhibition of the intestinal microflora, resulting in interruption of enter-ohepatic recycling and increased fecal excretion of the glucuronide metabolite. 

As antibiotics at subtherapeutic levels are banned in many countries, the addition of prebiotics to animal feed is becomes increasingly attractive. This is more to improve the well being of the animal nutritionally rather than improve or sustain a healthy microflora. Withdrawal of antibiotics from feed may leave livestock more susceptible to enteric infections. Pigs, calves, poultry, and rabbits often suffer from Clostridia-associated infections, whereas broilers are prone to Campylobacter and Salmonella infections, pigs are also at risk from pathogenic... 

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