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The disorder of intestinal flora may be hereditary in nature
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A group of researchers at one of the Minnesota universities found out that some bacteria living in the intestines can be inherited. In particular, we are talking about bacteria that cause inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease). Moreover, during the intake of antibiotics, the intestinal microflora is further disrupted, which worsens the situation.
It has long been established that intestinal microflora is formed in childhood, and it affects a person's health throughout life. Scientists have identified genes that, according to their assumption, may participate in the process of inheriting disturbed microflora. The specialists came to this conclusion after examining almost 500 volunteers who had inflammatory bowel diseases.
Scientists took DNA and intestinal bacteria DNA from each participant over two years. It turned out that DNA has a direct link to intestinal bacteria. Patients with inflammatory processes in the intestines had a rather limited microflora, and there were also a large number of bacteria that suppressed others. Given the existing connection between microflora and genes, scientists assumed that this factor is hereditary.
It is also known that the risk of developing many diseases depends on the intestinal microflora - diabetes, autism, heart disease, cancer.
The author of the research believes that it is necessary to work on gene therapy that will affect the intestinal microflora.
In another study, researchers suggested that certain bacteria in the gut may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Research has shown a link between certain bacteria present in the gut and inflammatory markers of immune cells that are characteristic of multiple sclerosis.
The research project involved 22 people with multiple sclerosis who had not undergone treatment and 31 people who had received medications (13 of them glatiramer acetate, 18 – interferon beta). A control group was also created, which included 44 healthy volunteers.
The experts made their conclusions about the microbiome after analyzing the ribosomal RNA of bacteria.
As it turned out, in the intestines of sick patients there were a large number of special single-celled microorganisms (archaea), while taxonomic microorganisms that have an anti-inflammatory effect were in the minority.
In the group of volunteers who received the necessary therapy, the number of taxonomic microorganisms increased, and the presence of archaea was associated with the expression of anti-inflammatory substances by immune cells. In other words, bacteria present in the intestine affect the human immune system and the course of the disease. This discovery helps explain why multiple sclerosis is rarely detected in those who prefer a plant-based diet, and the diet during the disease significantly changes the intestinal microflora.