IFLScience: Scientists Discover The Root Of Autoimmune Diseases - And How We Can Treat Them

Kalliope

Kalliope

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Yes, this title was a tad sensational, but interesting read nevertheless.

Short summary of article:
Autoimmune diseases are on the rise. A team of researchers from Yale University may have found an underlying cause by linking autoimmune reactions to a bacteria in the gut called Enterococcus gallinarum. An autoimmune response can be triggered when the bacterium spontaneously migrates from the gut to the other organs in the body, such as the spleen, liver and lymph nodes.

However, by using antibiotics or a vaccine, the researchers dulled symptoms by suppressing the growth of the bacterium.

Article in IFLScience: Scientists Discover The Root Of Autoimmune Diseases - And How We Can Treat Them
Publication in Science: Translocation of a gut pathobiont drives autoimmunity in mice and humans (behind paywall)
 
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Just a seventy year old theory that has failed to acquire any supporting evidence in humans despite thousands of scientists trying to get it to. I remember Eric Bywaters going on about this when I was a junior. He died in 2003 aged 93. The particular bacterium changes from decade to decade but the dud theory remains the same! You can always get it to work in mice.
 
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