A seminar dedicated to researchers, postgraduates and students of Humanitas, to take stock of the transplantation of microbiota: this is the seminar “Transplantation of Intestinal Microbiota. Experiences of use and future prospects”, scheduled for 20 February at the Humanitas Congress Centre.
We talked about the topic with the scientific director of the seminar, Prof. Enrico Stefano Corazziari, gastroenterologist and senior consultant in the Department of Gastroenterology of Humanitas directed by Prof. Alberto Malesci.
A meeting dedicated to researchers, postgraduates and students of Humanitas, to take stock of the transplantation of microbiota: this is the seminar “Transplantation of Intestinal Microbiota. Experiences of use and future prospects”, scheduled for 20 February at the Humanitas Congress Centre.
We talked about these topics with the scientific director of the seminar, Prof. Enrico Stefano Corazziari, gastroenterologist and senior consultant in the Department of Gastroenterology of Humanitas directed by Prof. Alberto Malesci.
The interest of research and clinical trials on microbiota transplantation
“Since microbiota transplantation has been proven to be the best therapy for recurrences of colitis from Clostridium difficile – explained Professor Corazziari, who recently presented his experience to the American Gastroenterology Association – we have noticed a significant increase in interest in basic and clinical research in identifying conditions of intestinal dysbiosis that can benefit from this treatment”.
“Currently more than two hundred clinical trials are underway to test its effectiveness in a wide spectrum of intestinal and extraintestinal diseases associated with dysbiosis such as inflammatory and functional chronic intestinal diseases, autism and depression, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, various rheumatic diseases, haematological and many conditions of immunodepression,” clarified the gastroenterologist.
“Despite a definite causal connection between the intestinal microbiota and the numerous and different pathologies has not been established, and despite many therapeutic responses to transplantation reported in the literature have not been sufficiently proven by controlled clinical studies – added Corazziari – the use of intestinal microbiota transplantation has already proved to be a powerful means to open new scenarios of basic knowledge, diagnosis and treatment in medicine”.
Microbiota: a fundamental element for the health of the organism
“The largest and most permeable barrier in the human body – said Prof. Corazziari – is the gastro-intestinal mucosa that is also the one most exposed to contact with foreign substances such as food, pathogenic and non-pathogenic germs, viruses, fungi, antigens and allergens of various kinds. In the digestive system there are also maximum concentrations of microbial elements, commensal or microbiota flora, and maximum expression of the immune system (about 70% of the entire body). The three components: microbiota, epithelial barrier and immune system interact dynamically to maintain, in a condition of balance, the defense of the body and preserve the state of health. Otherwise, the alteration of one or more of these elements can lead to disease conditions. The most recent techniques of analysis of the composition of the intestinal microbiota have shown how it moves away from the norm, a condition of dysbiosis, in various pathological situations,” concluded the professor.
Seminar schedules and sessions
The seminar, introduced by Prof. Alberto Malesci, is divided into two sessions: from 11.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon for the research area and from 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. for the residents and students of Humanitas University.
