by Andreu Prados
Until now, scientists have focused on the milk’s bacterial fraction without exploring the contribution of other microorganisms such as colonizing fungi. New data support the potential role of breast milk in the initial seeding of fungal species when colonizing the infant gut.
by Andreu Prados
Other substrates beyond non-digestible carbohydrates can be used as a fuel for the gut microbiota. Scientists have turned to the role played by dietary fats in human gut microbiome composition.
by Andreu Prados
Resistant starch is a highly fermentable fiber, although it’s considered to be an insoluble fiber. What is more interesting is the fact that the food source of resistant starch matters, as scientists show not all foods that are high in resistant starch drive identical changes in gut microbiota’s functional diversity.
by Andreu Prados
Little is known about the quantitative contribution of the host and the gut microbiome to drug metabolism. Using an experimental and computational methodology, scientists have provided some clues about how the gut microbiome influences our ability to metabolize antiviral drugs and benzodiazepines.
by Andreu Prados
Previous mice experiments and small studies of people with depression have revealed a connection between the gut microbiome in behaviour. A recent study using two large population cohorts has strengthened the link between microbial disturbances, depression and quality of life.
by Andreu Prados
The induction of intestinal CD8 T cells has been involved in the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. New work has identified 11 bacterial strains that enhance resistance to Listeria infection and improve the antitumor efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in mice.
by Andreu Prados
The European Union-funded microbiome project MyNewGut has come to an end. Discover here the project’s take-home messages regarding how we can target the gut microbiome for fighting obesity, metabolic syndrome and emotional disorders.
by Andreu Prados
Resistant starch is a highly fermentable fiber, although it’s considered an insoluble fiber. What is more interesting is the fact that the food source of resistant starch matters, as scientists show not all foods that are high in resistant starch drive identical changes in the gut microbiota functional diversity.
by Andreu Prados
The way intestinal immune cells distinguish innocuous dietary antigens and gut bacteria from pathogenic microbes and mount an appropriate response to each is unknown. New research unravels how intestinal bacteria may protect against cow’s milk allergy by regulating host immunity in mice.
by Andreu Prados
A decrease in the levels of butyrate-producing gut bacteria has been found in patients with high cardiovascular risk. In mice, bacterial butyrate can prevent atherosclerosis by increasing gut barrier function secondary to the upregulation of tight junction genes.
