Elucidating the role of intracellular Escherichia coli in stimulating cytokine production in the mucosa of Crohn’s disease patients

Crohn’s disease is a common and debilitating condition, caused by inflammation of the intestinal
tissues. Damage to the intestinal wall is thought to allow entry of intestinal bacteria into underlying
tissues, causing persistent inflammation in patients. Previous studies have suggested a role for the
bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) in this process. We will therefore investigate whether the
presence of E. coli in biopsy samples from the colon of Crohn’s disease patients is associated with
increased inflammation, compared with healthy patient biopsies. This will provide important insights
into how E. coli could contribute to intestinal inflammation in Crohn’s disease.