Fungus that is a key factor in Crohn’s disease.

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has identified a fungus that is a key factor in Crohn’s disease.

There is hope that this discovery, along with their finding of a new bacterium that is linked to the previous bacteria associated with the disease, will lead to new treatments and a cure.

We already know that bacteria, in addition to genetic and dietary factors, play a major role in causing Crohn’s disease,” said the study’s senior and corresponding author, Mahmoud A Ghannoum, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center “Essentially, patients with Crohn’s have abnormal immune responses to these bacteria, which inhabit the intestines of all people. While most researchers focus their investigations on these bacteria, few have examined the role of fungi, which are also present in everyone’s intestines. Our study adds significant new information to understanding why some people develop Crohn’s disease.

Source & further reading:http://www.newswise.com/articles/case-western-reserve-led-international-team-identifies-fungus-in-humans-for-first-time-as-key-factor-in-crohn-s-disease
Corina Marinescu