A new study has found that laboratory mice that are transplanted with the gut microbiota of wild mice are less likely to die from a flu virus infection or develop colorectal cancer than laboratory mice with their own gut microbiota.
Study shows “just in case” antibiotics in late pregnancy may have health consequences for offspring
13 Sep 2017by Kristina Campbell
Researchers at the UChicago Medicine have found that antibiotics given to mothers just before and after giving birth resulted in gut microbiota dysbiosis and immune system changes.
New study uncovers a key immune mechanism that modulates the diversity of the gut microbiota
17 Aug 2017by Andreu Prados
A new study has found for the first time that immunoglobulin M secreted by the human intestine interacts with the gut microbiome to maintain its diversity.
What scientists could learn by studying the microbial exposures and gut microbiota of astronauts
26 Apr 2017by Kristina Campbell
A study of astronauts’ gut microbiota brings to light a possible inconvenience when all microbes are removed, as this endangers the gut microbiota and, thus, the astronauts’ health.
Gut microbiota may be involved in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis
23 Feb 2017by Andreu Prados
A recent review, led by Dr. Hai Lu from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University in Guangzhou (China), discusses the existing evidence for the role of gut microbiota in ankylosing spondylitis.
The links between diet and immunity: Interview with Prof. Philip Calder (Part 2)
23 Nov 2016by Kristina Campbell
Whether it's chicken soup to help fight a cold or garlic to fortify against the flu, tradition has it that food can influence our immune response. But does this idea hold up scientifically?
Microbiome disruptions could explain HIV-exposed babies’ increased risk of morbidity and mortality
19 Sep 2016by Andreu Prados
It is already known that a reduction in gut microbial richness is the hallmark change of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but how this dysbiosis is established in the HIV-exposed uninfected infant is poorly understood. A recent cross-sectional study, led by Dr. Grace M. Aldrovandi from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in Los Angeles (USA), suggests that perturbations in the infant gut microbiome may explain the greater risk of morbidity and mortality in uninfected babies born to HIV-positive mothers.
Host and donor microbiota composition affects the rate of transplant acceptance in mice
12 Aug 2016by Andreu Prados
It has been previously reported that clinical interventions on the gut microbiota constitute a new approach for preventing side effects of bone marrow transplant. Little is known regarding the role of environmental factors such as microbiota in transplant rejection.
Over the last decade, the proportion of the developed world’s population over the age of 65 years has increased by more than 10%.
A recent review by Julie Pfeiffer and Herbert Virgin suggests that studying the interactions between the enteric virome, other microbes in the microbiota and host genes could be a useful tool with therapeutic benefits.