Antibiotic misuse linked to intestinal disease, new study reveals

Scientists have discovered how the misuse of antibiotics contributes to the development of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The latest research, published in "Science Advances," indicates that the leading cause of these conditions may lie in the damage to the intestinal mucosal lining, not just the impact on bacteria.

A research team from Bar-Ilan University in Israel conducted a detailed analysis of antibiotics' effect on mice's intestines. The study used advanced techniques such as RNA sequencing, machine learning, and mucus secretion measurement. The results confirm that antibiotics significantly affect the functioning of the intestinal mucosal lining, which can lead to serious health complications.

Researchers point out that this protective barrier lining is damaged in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

We have discovered that antibiotic use actually damages the protective mucus layer that separates the immune system in the gut from the microbiome. This finding shatters the paradigm that antibiotics harm only bacteria and not our own cells,” says Dr. Shai Bel, the author of the publication.

Damage to the intestinal mucosal lining allows bacteria to penetrate tissues more easily, leading to an increased immune response, the proliferation of bacterial antigens, and the development of ulcers characteristic of these conditions. The study also showed that this adverse effect occurs regardless of how the antibiotics are administered—either orally or via injection.

Israeli scientists announced that they plan to research potential therapeutic methods that could mitigate the undesirable effects of antibiotics on intestinal mucus in the future. They emphasize that their findings are essential for understanding the mechanisms of developing inflammatory bowel disease and shaping safer future antibiotic therapies.

The research team calls for the cautious use of antibiotics and a thorough analysis of their impact on intestinal health.