Gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: a critical review of mechanisms and therapeutic advances

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a complex, recrudescent chronic gastrointestinal disease. The prevalence of IBD has increased globally year by year, and the exact pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Evidence indicates that there is a strong correlation between dysbiosis of gut microbiota and the occurrence and progression of IBD. This review systematically describes recent advances in understanding the role of gut microbiota in IBD, with a particular focus on how dysbiosis contributes to pathogenesis. In addition, this review synthesizes the latest research progress and challenges of therapies of IBD targeting the gut microbiota, highlighting both their therapeutic potential and current limitations. Importantly, literature is based on targeted selection of high-quality sources, including clinical trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and regulatory documents, to provide a balanced and up-to-date perspective. Emphasis is laid on the potential of microbiota-targeted therapies in IBD management.