A team of researchers from the University of Oregon and the University of California, Irvine, has discovered how bacteria like Vibrio cholerae trigger pain in the gut through physical changes rather than chemical signals.
The study focused on zebrafish, which showed a response similar to humans when infected with the bacteria. In the fish, immune cells called macrophages were redeployed to areas of tissue damage caused by the bacteria, leading to increased gut contractions and pain.
“This is an amazing mechanism for clearing out potential threats,” says microbiologist Karen Guillemin. “It’s not a malicious activity by the bacteria, but rather the body’s natural response.”
The researchers found that this response is beneficial for both humans and zebrafish, as it clears out damaged tissue and allows the bacteria to move on to new hosts sooner.
Further research is needed to understand how the nervous system and immune system work together to fight infection, but the study provides a better understanding of how the gut responds to invading bacteria. The findings could eventually inform treatments for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/harmful-bacteria-can-trigger-pain-in-your-gut-and-now-we-know-how