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.
The topic for World Microbiome Day 2024 is “Feed your microbes”. We have interviewed scientists about the knowns and unknowns of what is a healthy gut microbiome and the current level of application of microbiome-directed personalized nutrition to healthcare.
Stay tuned to our latest news
Food 4 Gut Health news
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”.
Growing evidence from the microbiome field shows that harnessing gut microbes through diet can beneficially impact brain and behaviour. Which gut microbiome-targeted interventions have been studied as potential approaches for mental health?
Research & Practice news
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).
Several patients report that wheat and gluten significantly worsen gastrointestinal symptoms. Wheat is a complex food containing fibers, carbohydrates (mainly starch), and proteins, including gluten. Gluten comprises a group of ethanol-soluble proteins found in grains such as wheat, rye, oats, and barley.
