Patients with Crohn’s disease have uncontrolled inflammation and fibrosis in their gut, which can lead to narrowing of the intestines that can slow or block the movement of food.
In a publication in Science Immunology, Dr. Kelly McNagny and his lab discovered a mutation that prevented mice from developing fibrosis after they were infected with a type of salmonella that mimics the symptoms of Crohn’s.
The next step for McNagny’s lab will be to test drugs to find out whether they can stop or reverse fibrosis in mice.
Read more in this UBC Medicine News article.