Exciting Research -

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405075223.htm

Microflora Have Decisive Role With Autoimmune Illnesses, Some Good, Some Bad
ScienceDaily (Apr. 5, 2012) (snip...) "— When the right microorganisms are at work, immune cells involved in the development of autoimmune illnesses like psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and arthritis, can develop anti-inflammatory properties. Scientists at Charité -- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland, have now made this discovery. The scientists have demonstrated that particular fungi activate the immune cells involved in the development of certain illnesses, whereas other microorganisms, in particular bacteria that are found naturally on our skin, lend an anti-inflammatory function to them."

"... the key cells causing illness can develop an anti-inflammatory 'twin'," explained Dr. Christina Zielinski, first author of the study."

""I am convinced that an imbalance in our microbial microflora has a decisive influence on the development of chronic inflammatory illnesses like rheumatism, Morbus Crohn and psoriasis. Our organism is composed of ten times more microbial cells than our body's own cells. Keeping this in check is not easy. Interleukin 1b is now turning out to be a decisive molecular switch, which the microbes use to dictate between healthy or sick," says Dr. Christina Zielinski. She sees great potential in the therapy of inflammatory diseases by blocking this messenger substance. In contrast to other immune therapies this does not lead to a weakening of the immune system, but rather enables the cells instead to be anti-inflammatory if needed, without losing the ability to fight dangerous pathogens."



Way to go... Exciting research. This is what we need - an end to the weakening of the immune system which are the dangers in the present biologics.

Interestingly, that photo of the psoriasis skin is *exactly what the backs of my heels, soles of feet and palms of hands look like when in an 'outbreak'. Yet, the doctors at the big time hospital in Paris were UNable to recognise psoriasis when right under their collective noses! ('You haven't got psoriatic evidence in your heels and elbows...'). Sheesh. Shakes head in wonderment. (Anyways, I've dumpted em, a right nest of collective clonkers).

the topic of the gut microbiome and health (and disease) was one of the runner's up in "Sciences" "Breakthrough of the Year". A few seminal papers published this year showing: 1. how diet affects the gut microbiome and 2. how gut microbiome makeup affects health, everything from IBD to diabetes and heart disease.

i predict that this is just the tip of the iceberg and this will remain a very hot area of research for years to come. then hopefully "cures" or at least "better management" based on those results. already the fact that probiotics can help IBD, etc is having an impact.

thanks for the post