Chapter 44 - Infections in the Immune Interplay of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), namely ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is a chronic, relapsing, multi-factorial disease characterized by inflammation of the intestine. While the etiology of IBD is still not fully understood, the incidence and prevalence of it are growing rapidly worldwide. IBD commonly peaks in the second-to-fourth decade of life, affecting men and women similarly. Early-life events, such as antibiotic administration and babies born by caesarian section, represent just a few among multiple environmental risk factors. In addition, gut microbiome was found to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the disease. This is particularly important due to the interplay between the immune system and gut microbiome. Disorders of gut microbiome, such as “dysbiosis,” has commonly been seen in IBD patients. The role of microbes, both, in the initiation and exacerbation of disease, and protection from IBD are viewed in this chapter.