The multifaceted virulence of adherent-invasive .

The surge in inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn's disease (CD), is alarming. While the role of the gut microbiome in CD development is unresolved, the frequent isolation of adherent-invasive (AIEC) strains from patient biopsies, together with their propensity to trigger gut inflammation, underpin the potential role of these bacteria as disease modifiers. In this review, we explore the spectrum of AIEC pathogenesis, including their metabolic versatility in the gut.