Researchers Develop New Confocal Laser Endomicroscope

A research team has developed a new confocal laser endomicroscope (CLE) for prior diagnosis and detection of inflammatory bowel disease. The University of East Anglia (UEA) leads the international team for the research.

The CLE comprises a microscope that facilitates clinicians in viewing the bowel disease causing bacteria. Bacteria found in the gut’s mucous membrane are considered as the cause for bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

The existing technique of applying biopsies causes difficulties to observe the interaction of the bacteria with the mucous membrane, and to view the correct location of the bacteria. The CLE method utilizes a flourescent dye to show the bacteria, enabling the processes to be observed at a sub-cellular level, while performing colonoscopy. The study, sponsored by the Wellcome Trust, reveals that among the 163 patients who were tested, people diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease might have bacteria inside the gut wall compared to healthy persons.