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Study Links Bacteria Toxin to Ulcerative Colitis Risk

11/20/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Nanjing University researchers link the toxin aerolysin from dirty-water bacteria to ulcerative colitis, showing it damages colon macrophages and may raise risk.
In the study, 72% of people with ulcerative colitis carried Aeromonas bacteria, compared with 12% of those without.
The researchers caution that the bacteria are not proven to be the sole cause.
They are testing treatments to neutralize the toxin and to remove the bacteria.

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Story summary

Nanjing University researchers link the toxin aerolysin from dirty-water bacteria to ulcerative colitis, showing it damages colon macrophages and may raise risk.
In the study, 72% of people with ulcerative colitis carried Aeromonas bacteria, compared with 12% of those without.
The researchers caution that the bacteria are not proven to be the sole cause.
They are testing treatments to neutralize the toxin and to remove the bacteria.