MS & Gut Bacteria: How Mimicry Fuels Disease Progression

Tiny Gut Imposters Could Be Driving Multiple Sclerosis

New research reveals that when gut bacteria closely resemble the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers, the immune system can become confused and attack both — accelerating multiple sclerosis. In mouse experiments, bacteria engineered to mimic myelin triggered faster disease progression by activating aggressive immune cells that infiltrated the nervous system.

A fatal mix-up: how certain gut bacteria drive multiple sclerosis

15.12.2025 - If gut bacteria are too similar to the protective layer of nerves, they can misdirect the immune system and cause it to attack its own nervous system. This mechanism can accelerate the progression of multiple sclerosis, as researchers at the University of Basel, together with colleagues in Bonn, have shown in trials with mice. However, their results also open up opportunities for trea

MS & Gut Bacteria: How Mimicry Fuels Disease Progression

The search for the root causes of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has taken a significant turn, with new research pinpointing a surprising culprit: the gut