Cornell University scientists have discovered that a novel group of E. coli bacteria - containing genes similar to those described in uropathogenic and avian pathogenic E. coli and enteropathogenic bacteria such as salmonella, cholera, bubonic plague - is associated with intestinal inflammation typical of Crohn's disease.

"Given that only about 20 percent of fecal bacteria can be cultured, our group adopted a broad culture-independent approach to target specific subgroups of bacteria for quantitative in situ analysis and culture based characterization," said Kenneth Simpson, professor of small animal medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine. "Our findings raise the possibility that a novel group of E. coli contains opportunistic pathogens that may be causally related to chronic intestinal inflammation in susceptible individuals. <snip>

The study found an increased level of E. coli bacteria in more inflamed areas of the small intestines instead of MAP, a bacterium related to tubercle bacillus that has been more commonly associated with Crohn's.

The study has been published in the ISME Journal.

Source: Cornell Press Office

Image: Schematic of patterns of disease in CD. The three most common sites of intestinal involvement in Crohn's disease are ileal, ileocolic and colonic. Source: Wikipedia