The researchers then studied the effect this bacteria had in mice who have received a chemical that gives them colitis. The severity of colitis was reduced for those mice who received F prausnitzii.
It's a long way (and a long time) from studies on mice to a drug that can help humans with Crohn's, but the authors conclude that this little bacteria with the long name might be "a promising strategy in CD treatment."
Sokil, H, et al. "Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is an anti-inflammatory commensal bacterium identified by gut microbiota analysis of Crohn disease patients." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (Epub ahead of print). 20 Oct 2008. 22 Oct 2008.