It is likely that if a place is found for Helicobacter spp. within IBD pathogenesis, other organisms

with similar traits may be equally able to fulfill the same role. Gradel et al. (2009) demonstrated recently that infection with LEE011 cost either Campylobacter or Salmonella predisposed to subsequent IBD development. We recently discussed the methodology utilized to identify the Campylobacter within this study, suggesting that further investigation may be warranted to define whether all Campylobacter attribute this risk or whether there are specific candidates (Hansen et al., 2010). Further exploration of the role that infectious triggers play in IBD in association with the host genetic factors involved may lead us to a better understanding of IBD, which may in turn take us far from the convenient, but imprecise labels of CD and UC. This may subsequently improve the accuracy of IBD research in much the same way that detailed genotyping and phenotyping of cancer variants has led to increased scientific accuracy of treatment studies and, as a result, the efficacy of cancer therapies. The other benefit of such understanding would, of course, be selleck products new therapeutic targets for IBD including perhaps immunization against

potential pathogenic triggers, targeted antibiotic therapies and probiotics designed to compete for the same ecological niche

as the pathogenic organism in question. We have recently come through a genetic revolution in our understanding of IBD. Perhaps the next revolution will be in understanding the colonic bacteria of IBD and both the route from ‘normal’ microbiota to dysbiosis, triclocarban and the microbial factors that foster disease chronicity. Organisms from the genus Helicobacter may well be involved in both areas. The authors wish to acknowledge funding from the Broad Foundation, USA, and the Chief Scientist Office, Scotland. R.H. is funded by a fellowship from the Chief Scientist Office in Scotland. We declare no conflicts of interest with the data included in this manuscript. [Correction added 8 November after online publication: Acknowledgements section has been added]. “
“Mature lymphocyte immigration into the thymus has been documented in mouse, rat, and pig models, and highly increases when cells acquire an activated phenotype. Entrance of peripheral B and T cells into the thymus has been described in healthy and pathological situations. However, it has not been proposed that leukocyte recirculation to the thymus could be a common feature occurring during the early phase of a Th1 inflammatory/infectious process when a large number of peripheral cells acquire an activated phenotype and the cellularity of the thymus is seriously compromised.