Publication in Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is rising in prevalence across generations. Although diagnostic tools have improved, long-term treatments remain limited, and symptoms often recur. Ulcerative colitis has complex causes, but the intestinal microbiome—particularly Desulfovibrionaceae bacteria—is believed to play a key role in its development. These microbes are important for gut function, yet their behavior under disease conditions is not well understood. This review highlights recent advances in assessing the cytotoxicity and viability of anaerobic gut bacteria, focusing on techniques like flow cytometry, high-throughput screening, and molecular assays. We explore how these methods shed light on the role of Desulfovibrionaceae in IBD and broader microbiota-host interactions, including immune regulation, nutrient metabolism, and resistance to harmful pathogens.