by Tufts University A novel new study suggests that the gut microbiome has a role in mechanisms related to muscle strength in older adults. The work, led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts, is available as a pre-proof in advance of print in Experimental Gerontology....
Tag: <span>Microbiome</span>
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Digestion-aiding herbs alter gut microbiome
by Monica May, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Many medicines used today—including aspirin, penicillin and malaria-fighting quinine—originated from nature. Now, Sanford Burnham Prebys and UC San Diego scientists have turned to ancient digestive herbs to learn about gut health—in the hopes of uncovering new treatments for colon cancer, autoimmune conditions and additional serious diseases. In...
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The human microbiome is a treasure trove waiting to be unlocked
by Vasu Appanna, The Conversation Bacteria are at the center of all life forms on planet earth and are the essential building blocks that make living organisms the way they are. Both the mitochondrion —found in most organisms, which generates energy in the cell —and the chloroplast —the solar energy-harvester located in plants —can be traced to their bacterial...
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Bacteria live on our eyeballs—and understanding their role could help treat common eye diseases
by Tony St. Leger, The Conversation You may be familiar with the idea that your gut and skin are home to a collection of microbes—fungi, bacteria and viruses—that are vital for keeping you healthy. But did you know that your eyes also host a unique menagerie of microbes? Together, they’re called the eye microbiome. When these microbes are out of...
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People with fibromyalgia have different gut bacteria
By Catharine Paddock PhD Fact checked by Isabel Godfrey A study that compared women with and without fibromyalgia has, for the first time, linked gut bacteria to the long-lasting disease and its main symptoms. Researchers in Canada identified 19 species of gut bacteria that were present in higher or lower numbers in individuals with fibromyalgia. “We found,” says Amir Minerbi,...
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Just a Phage? How Bacteria’s Predators Can Shape the Gut Microbiome
The gut microbiome is a complex, interconnected ecosystem of species. And, like any ecosystem, some organisms are predators and some are prey. A new study led by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Wyss Institute investigates the impact of bacteriophage, viruses that infect and kill bacteria. They find that phage can have a profound impact on the dynamics of the gut microbiome, not...
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Antibiotic produced by the microbiome kills bacteria by disturbing energy metabolism
GERMAN CENTER FOR INFECTION RESEARCH A research team from the Universities of Tübingen and Göttingen as well as from the German Center for Infection Research has investigated the mode of action of a new class of antibiotics that is highly effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens. The so-called fibupeptides impair the energy supply to the bacterial cell, consequently causing...
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Study shows how diet can prevent a mid-life microbiome crisis and improve brain health
A number of physiological and psychological changes occur as we age, and many studies have shown that our gut microbiome also changes as we grow older. A fascinating new study is suggesting that a shift in gut bacteria in our middle-age could trigger a process that plays a role in cognitive decline in our later...
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Dual studies offer incredible insights into connection between depression and the gut
Two newly published studies build on a compelling growing body of evidence linking depression with mechanisms in our gut. A fascinating study led by researchers at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with depression, can directly result in gastrointestinal distress such as constipation, while a second study, from the Children’s Hospital of...
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The climate change within—missing microbes and the evolution of the microbiome
The human microbiome – that invisible world of bacteria, viruses and fungi in and on our bodies – has been relatively unstudied even though scientists have known about it for centuries. But thanks to researchers like Martin Blaser, the world of science and medicine is starting to pay closer attention. “There is an ecological problem – climate...