Category : Gut Microbiota

During pregnancy, the maternal gut microbiota experiences shifts that have been suggested to contribute to maternal metabolic and immune adaptations beneficial in pregnancy. Although these changes can be disrupted by maternal diet-induced obesity, little is known about the mechanisms behind the impact of diet-induced changes in the maternal gut microbiota on inflammatory and metabolic responses during pregnancy and their effect…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

During pregnancy, the maternal gut microbiota experiences shifts that have been suggested to contribute to maternal metabolic and immune adaptations beneficial in pregnancy. Although these changes can be disrupted by maternal diet-induced obesity, little is known about the mechanisms behind the impact of diet-induced changes in the maternal gut microbiota on inflammatory and metabolic responses during pregnancy and their effect…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Together with diet, treatment with drugs is a major factor that influences gut microbiota composition. Indeed, the gut microbiota community may contribute to the therapeutic effects of certain drugs. For instance, metformin may act through a close interaction between Bacteroides fragilis, the bile acid glycoursodeoxycholic acid and intestinal farnesoid X receptor to improve metabolic dysfunction in individuals with type 2…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Together with diet, treatment with drugs is a major factor that influences gut microbiota composition. Indeed, the gut microbiota community may contribute to the therapeutic effects of certain drugs. For instance, metformin may act through a close interaction between Bacteroides fragilis, the bile acid glycoursodeoxycholic acid and intestinal farnesoid X receptor to improve metabolic dysfunction in individuals with type 2…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

We know that the gut microbiome is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders. However, even though underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) could contribute to explaining some gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with these conditions. The field's primary challenges include characterizing the small intestinal microbiome and exploring to what extent diet-driven changes…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

We know that the gut microbiome is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders. However, even though underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) could contribute to explaining some gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with these conditions. The field's primary challenges include characterizing the small intestinal microbiome and exploring to what extent diet-driven changes…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Host genetics may impact the gut microbiome, as supported by twin studies revealing associations between specific alleles in the host and members or functions of the gut microbiome. However, it is unknown whether the gut microbiota could respond to copy-number variation in host genes, which are considered to be a source of genetic variation. A new study, led by Dr.…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Host genetics may impact the gut microbiome, as supported by twin studies revealing associations between specific alleles in the host and members or functions of the gut microbiome. However, it is unknown whether the gut microbiota could respond to copy-number variation in host genes, which are considered to be a source of genetic variation. A new study, led by Dr.…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Over the past 15 years, scientists have focused mainly on the bacterial fraction of the gut microbiome to characterize its composition and impact on human health and diseases. Despite this, fungi, phages, archaea and protists also count as native constituents of the microbiome, and now, scientists have also started to take an interest in their physiological relevance. Recent studies support…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Over the past 15 years, scientists have focused mainly on the bacterial fraction of the gut microbiome to characterize its composition and impact on human health and diseases. Despite this, fungi, phages, archaea and protists also count as native constituents of the microbiome, and now, scientists have also started to take an interest in their physiological relevance. Recent studies support…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Genes from the gut microbiota encode for a wide range of metabolic activities that allow commensal microbes to ferment dietary fibers and prebiotics into metabolites that include short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Of these, propionate has been shown to trigger the secretion of gut peptides that take part in regulating appetite and glucose metabolism and reducing inflammation. Although colonic propionate…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Genes from the gut microbiota encode for a wide range of metabolic activities that allow commensal microbes to ferment dietary fibers and prebiotics into metabolites that include short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Of these, propionate has been shown to trigger the secretion of gut peptides that take part in regulating appetite and glucose metabolism and reducing inflammation. Although colonic propionate…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Modulating the gut microbiota has emerged as a means of affecting the central nervous system function and, thus, human behavior, especially in the context of stress, mood and anxiety disorders and even neurocognitive disorders. Clinical studies with probiotics using neuroimaging methods have started exploring the benefits of probiotics in the human brain. Among them, the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum 1714 has…

Paul Enck
Prof. Dr. Paul Enck, Director of Research, Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. His main interests are gut functions in health and disease, including functional and inflammatory bowel disorders, the role of the gut microbiota, regulation of eating and food intake and its disorders, of nausea, vomiting and motion sickness, and the psychophysiology and neurobiology of the placebo response, with specific emphasis on age and gender contributions. He has published more than 170 original data paper in scientific, peer-reviewed journals, and more than 250 book chapters and review articles. He is board member/treasurer of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and of the German Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, and has served as reviewer for many international journals and grant agencies.

Modulating the gut microbiota has emerged as a means of affecting the central nervous system function and, thus, human behavior, especially in the context of stress, mood and anxiety disorders and even neurocognitive disorders. Clinical studies with probiotics using neuroimaging methods have started exploring the benefits of probiotics in the human brain. Among them, the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum 1714 has…

Paul Enck
Prof. Dr. Paul Enck, Director of Research, Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. His main interests are gut functions in health and disease, including functional and inflammatory bowel disorders, the role of the gut microbiota, regulation of eating and food intake and its disorders, of nausea, vomiting and motion sickness, and the psychophysiology and neurobiology of the placebo response, with specific emphasis on age and gender contributions. He has published more than 170 original data paper in scientific, peer-reviewed journals, and more than 250 book chapters and review articles. He is board member/treasurer of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and of the German Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, and has served as reviewer for many international journals and grant agencies.

The human milk microbiota is an important source of commensal microorganisms for the infant gut. Although both maternal and infant microbiomes are shaped by a multitude of factors, including delivery mode, geographic location and the method of breastfeeding, the extent to which bacterial taxa in a mother’s breast milk correlates with an infant’s fecal microbiota across different geographic locations is unclear.…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

The human milk microbiota is an important source of commensal microorganisms for the infant gut. Although both maternal and infant microbiomes are shaped by a multitude of factors, including delivery mode, geographic location and the method of breastfeeding, the extent to which bacterial taxa in a mother’s breast milk correlates with an infant’s fecal microbiota across different geographic locations is unclear.…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Although twin research has shown that gut microbiota features a heritable component, we do not know whether gut microbial genetic variations can shape phenotypic differences that affect host health. A new study, led by Dr. Eran Segal from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot (Israel), has identified structural variations in gut microbial genomes that vary across people and are…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Although twin research has shown that gut microbiota features a heritable component, we do not know whether gut microbial genetic variations can shape phenotypic differences that affect host health. A new study, led by Dr. Eran Segal from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot (Israel), has identified structural variations in gut microbial genomes that vary across people and are…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Genes alone cannot explain the current rise in colorectal cancer (CRC) and scientists are now trying to elucidate the gut microbiota's contribution as an important player. Previous human research has shown mechanisms by which the bacteria might affect tumorigenesis, especially in the early stages. However, gut microbiome signatures of CRC in association studies have not always been validated across different…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Genes alone cannot explain the current rise in colorectal cancer (CRC) and scientists are now trying to elucidate the gut microbiota's contribution as an important player. Previous human research has shown mechanisms by which the bacteria might affect tumorigenesis, especially in the early stages. However, gut microbiome signatures of CRC in association studies have not always been validated across different…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados