Abstract
The genetic revolution in IBD has resulted in the detection of 99 susceptibility loci and moved the focus of research to the host-environment interface and the role of the innate immune system. The most important element of this interface is thought to be the microbial residents of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the so-called microbiota. Various methodologies exist for interrogating this "virtual organ", from simple, longstanding, culture-based methods through to advanced, high-throughput, molecular methods. This review offers an outline of currently used methodologies in microbial research with direct applicability or relevance to IBD, and benchmarks each with examples of its use in the literature. The research tools currently exist to carry the IBD genetic revolution forward into the GI microbiota.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Inflammatory Bowel Disease Monitor |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology