Mikael Sellin and his research group at Uppsala University researchers now shows that the surface layer of the mucosa, known as the epithelium, can rapidly contract when it recognizes a bacterial attack.
To maximize absorption of nutrients from the diet, the intestinal mucous membrane has a large surface area. However, this also makes it vulnerable to attack from aggressive gut microbes.
The new study show that A new study by Uppsala University study show that the surface layer of the mucosa, known as the epithelium, can rapidly contract when it recognizes a bacterial attack.
Great study to fight bacterial gut infections which are often hard to treat. Antibiotics can kill the normal flora of the intestine, and this environment offers many recesses where bacteria can lurk. The growing emergence of resistance, moreover, means that many types of antibiotic no longer have any effect on the bacteria.
The study was made feasible by new technology for growing intestinal tissue from both mice and humans, outside of the body. With advanced microscopy, the scientists could follow in real time how aggressive bacteria invade the intestinal mucosa, and how the mucosa responds to the attack.
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