Escherichia coli Nissle 1917

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 is a strain of Escherichia coli bacteria that is used as a probiotic agent in medicine. It was discovered in 1917 by Alfred Nissle, a German physician, and has been used in Europe for over a century to treat various gastrointestinal disorders.

History

Alfred Nissle discovered the strain during World War I, when he noticed that one of his soldiers did not suffer from dysentery, unlike his comrades. He isolated the strain from the soldier's feces and found it to be a non-pathogenic strain of E. coli. Since then, it has been used as a probiotic agent in Europe.

Medical Uses

E. coli Nissle 1917 is used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. It is also used to prevent the recurrence of bladder cancer.

Mechanism of Action

The exact mechanism of action of E. coli Nissle 1917 is not fully understood. However, it is believed to work by competing with pathogenic bacteria for nutrients and attachment sites in the gut, thereby preventing their growth. It may also stimulate the immune system and produce antimicrobial substances.

Safety

E. coli Nissle 1917 is generally considered safe for use in humans. However, it should be used with caution in people with weakened immune systems, as it can cause infections in rare cases.

See Also

• Probiotics
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Escherichia coli

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