Swell, a Pain Lesson: Gut microbes needed for immune development
Bacteria in your belly can be a pain in the neck, knee, or tuchus. Beneficial microbes that live in the colon are responsible for developing immune system responses that lead to inflammation and pain, a new study in mice shows.
People and animals host hundreds of different bacteria and microbes in their large intestines. Generally, the microbes are friends, helping to digest food and even ensuring that our intestines develop correctly.
Now, a group of researchers in Brazil has shown that our bacterial buddies help our immune systems acquire the ability to cause swelling and pain.