Overview
- Researchers report that aerolysin from an Aeromonas variant selectively kills tissue‑resident intestinal macrophages, with human biopsies showing near‑complete depletion even in areas without visible inflammation.
- In mouse models, infection with the macrophage‑toxic bacterium (MTB) depleted gut macrophages and heightened susceptibility to colitis, while aerolysin‑deficient mutants failed to trigger disease.
- Anti‑aerolysin antibodies prevented MTB‑induced colitis and eased established inflammation in mice, indicating a potential therapeutic avenue targeting the toxin.
- Stool and tissue analyses detected Aeromonas and aerolysin more frequently in ulcerative colitis patients, with stool surveys reporting about 72% positivity in UC versus roughly 12% in healthy controls.
- The authors emphasize that the evidence is preclinical and associative in humans, note current assays may not distinguish MTB from other Aeromonas, disclose a related patent filing, and call for epidemiological studies and clinical trials.