According to the researchers (from the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), the lack of a specific bacterium in the gut can become the cause of Crohn’s disease.

The lack of naturally-produced bacteria may activate the inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder because of over-stimulate immune system.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is the bug that has been highlighted by a French team. The researchers say that the bug secrets such biochemicals as decrease inflammation.

The study has been presented in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

The researchers has also identified that Crohn’s disease patients have a noticeable deficiency in Clostridium leptum group’s bacteria.

The latest work shows that F. prausnitzii accounts for large part of the deficit ,as it’s a major component of this group.

The researchers also noticed that if Crohn’s patients had to undergo bowel surgery, they were more likely to develop the condition again.

The researchers conducted tests on cultured cells and found that the liquid in which F.prausnitzii were developed gave an anti-inflammatory effect.

The researchers believe that if the current trials are successful, human patients could also be treated successfully with F. prausnitzii.

Dr Anton Emmanuel, who is medical director of the digestive disorders charity core, says in this connection: “The study is, indeed, quite exciting and it may prove a replacement therapy for the patients.”