The microbial colonization of a baby's gut is primarily influenced by the mother's vaginal microbiota during birth and by breast milk. Two new studies have found for the first time that fathers also contribute to the establishment of the baby's microbiota, which could have health implications.
Two hospitals in Barcelona, the Clínic and Bellvitge, have launched Spain's first Fecal Microbiota Bank. Their goal is to obtain donations of stool from healthy individuals to perform microbiota transplants on patients suffering from potentially fatal infections of bacteria known as C. difficile infections. We step into the fecal microbiota transfer units of both hospitals to learn how they operate and meet some of the donors.
You are probably familiar with the gut-brain connection. But did you know that your gut and lungs are in constant conversation? Scientists call this connection the gut-lung axis. Both the gut and lungs are mucosal organs—while the gut absorbs nutrients from food, the lungs absorb gases like oxygen from the air.
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Food 4 Gut Health news
For the first time, a European group of researchers have analyzed the microbiome of more than 2,500 different types of foods. The insights gained will help better identify good and bad ‘bugs’ and improve the quality and safety of existing products. Additionally, the research sheds light on the influence of food microbiome on our own gut microbiome and overall health.
While gut health and the microbiome have captured the attention of both researchers and the lay public, there is a gulf between popular media claims about gut health and the actual science. We spoke to Kristina Campbell, a microbiome science writer, about her new book on the subject called “Gut Health for Dummies”.
Research & Practice news
Are we getting closer to defining a ‘healthy’ gut microbiome? Here’s what recent studies show
28 Oct 2024by Hervé Blottière
While a higher gut microbiome diversity is generally considered a marker of health, specific microbial features that predict a host’s health and well-being are unknown. New studies characterize healthy gut microbiome trajectories in children and adults and link them to health outcomes.
Intestinal epithelial cells and opportunistic pathogens tame innate and adaptive immunity in celiac disease
25 Sep 2024by Heather Galipeau, Sara Rahmani
Damaged intestinal epithelial cells are a hallmark of celiac disease. New findings in Gastroenterology shed light on the previously unrecognized role of intestinal epithelial cells in celiac disease, indicating that the epithelium is not only the target of immune-mediated damage but could also be an active player in orchestrating inflammation.
The fourth edition of IBS Days covered the latest IBS diagnosis and treatment advances in a postgraduate course. Read about the highlights and discussions (part 2).
