Gastroenterology. 2020 Nov 27;S0016-5085(20)35507-4. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.056.Online ahead of print.

Mirae Lee ¹, Eugene B Chang ²

Author information

• ¹Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637.
• ²Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637. Electronic address: echang@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) develop via convergence of environmental, microbial, immunological, and genetic factors. Alterations in the gut microbiota have been associated with development and progression of IBD, but it is not clear which populations of microbes are involved or how they might contribute to IBD. We review the genetic and environmental factors affecting the gut microbiota, the roles of gut microbes and their bioproducts in the development and clinical course of IBD, and strategies by which microbiome-based therapies can be used to prevent, manage, and eventually cure IBD. We discuss research findings that help bridge the gap between the basic sciences and clinical application.