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New research shows that smoking alters gut microbes in a way that reduces inflammation in ulcerative colitis. The discovery hints at future treatments that harness bacteria or metabolites instead of cigarettes. Credit: ShutterstockSmoking helps oral bacteria settle in the gut, protecting against colitis but not Crohn’s disease. This mechanism could inspire safer treatments. A research team led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan has uncovered why smoking tobacco appears to ease symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition marked by inflammation in the large intestine. Their study, published in the journal Gutrevealed that smoking produces certain metabolites that allow oral bacteria to establish themselves in the colon, where they activate an immune response. The findings suggest that similar benefits might be achieved through alternatives such as prebiotics...