Udai P Singh
It is well established that uncontrolled activation of effector immune cells in response to the gut microbiota triggers chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms in genetically susceptible hosts. The exact cause(s) for IBD remains unknown. Previous studies have examined, in detail, how the gut microbiome, genetic susceptibility, and environmental stress may activate the immune responses associated with IBD. Recent studies show that a high fat diet alters the gut microbiota structure and function and facilitates the initiation and progression of immune responses responsible for IBD outcome. Some recent studies also clearly suggest that changes in pathobionts lead to an altered immune response and disease progression. This editorial focuses on some information provided in these studies and addresses how high fat diet induced alteration in the gut microbiota affect IBD progression. We provide some suggestions on how our current knowledge might be used to develop new dietary microbial and immune based modulation strategies for risk assessment and treatment of IBD.