Intestinal dysbiosis: Novel mechanisms by which gut microbes trigger and prevent disease

•Fusobacterium nucleatum is associated with colorectal cancer.•Faecalibacterium prausnitzii decreases inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.•Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 decreases acute and chronic intestinal inflammation.•Bifidobacterium infantis prevents neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.•Akkermansia muciniphila decreases obesity, endotoxemia, and insulin resistance.

New research has identified specific intestinal colonizing microbes that can have significant influence on health and disease. Evidence is reviewed supporting an association between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colon cancer and for a protective role of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in inflammatory bowel disease, of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 in acute intestinal inflammation, of Bifidobacterium infantis in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, and of Akkermansia muciniphila in obesity and diabetes. These novel bacteria are clinically relevant and present opportunities for more focused diagnosis of colon cancer and prevention of common diseases.