Investigators from Cedars-Sinai have made two important discoveries about fiber and the gut microbiome in patients with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.
Tag: gut microbiome
Specific gut bacteria increase risk of severe malaria
Researchers have identified multiple species of bacteria that, when present in the gut, are linked to an increased risk of developing severe malaria in humans and mice. Their findings could lead to the development of new approaches targeting gut bacteria to prevent severe malaria and associated deaths.
Single model predicts trends in employment, microbiomes, forests
Researchers report that a single, simplified model can predict population fluctuations in three realms: urban employment, human gut microbiomes, and tropical forests.
Jennifer Wargo, M.D., elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Jennifer Wargo, M.D., professor of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) for her contributions to the understanding of melanoma treatment response and resistance to cancer therapies, including groundbreaking discoveries that reveal how the gut microbiome influences responses to immunotherapy.
Joint IAFNS-USDA Webinar Series Tackles Gut Health, Immune Function
Collaborative webinars to focus on key scientific trends and findings related to gut microbiome and nutrition, and the interaction of diet, stress and immune function.
MD Anderson Research Highlights for September 21, 2023
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back.
UIC awarded $3M to study link between gut microbiome, pain in kidney transplant patients
Funded by NIH, the five-year study builds off a pilot study that pointed to an association between changes in the gut microbiome and pain that interferes with a person’s daily activities, a symptom that nearly half of kidney transplant patients experience.
Altered gut bacteria may be early sign of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease causes changes to the brain that begin two decades or more before symptoms appear. A study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveals that the bacteria that live in the gut also change before Alzheimer’s symptoms arise, a discovery that could lead to diagnostics or treatments for Alzheimer’s disease that target the gut microbiome.
Meeting Preview: Hot Topics at NUTRITION 2023
Reporters and bloggers are invited to join top nutrition experts for a dynamic program at NUTRITION 2023. The annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition runs July 22-25 at the Sheraton Boston and features research announcements, expert discussions, and more.
Brain-Belly Connection: Gut Health May Influence Likelihood of Developing Alzheimer’s
UNLV study pinpoints 10 bacterial groups associated with Alzheimer’s disease, provides new insights into the relationship between gut makeup and dementia.
Interactions between gut bacteria may limit antibiotics’ efficacy against C. difficile
A study publishing May 11th in PLOS Biology by Ophelia Venturelli at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and colleagues suggests that between-species interactions within the gut microbiome may impact the efficacy of antibiotics aimed at treating C. difficile infections.
Lack of Intestinal Microbiota in Mouse Model Associated with Reduced Epithelial Cell Renewal
Article title: Absence of gut microbiota impairs depletion of Paneth cells but not goblet cells in germ-free Atoh1lox/lox VilCreERT2 mice Authors: Mohsin Hassan, Oriol Juanola, Stefania Huber, Philipp Kellmann, Jakob Zimmermann, Edoardo Lazzarini, Stephanie C. Ganal-Vonarburg, Mercedes Gomez de Agüero,…
Bloodstream infections in preemies may originate from their gut microbiomes
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that some dangerous bloodstream infections in premature infants may be caused by strains of bacteria already lurking in their gut microbiomes.
MD Anderson Research Highlights for March 29, 2023
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention.
Gut Microbiome Influences How Lymphoma Patients Respond to CAR T Therapy
In a new study published in Nature Medicine, Moffitt Cancer Center physician-scientists, in collaboration with four cancer centers in the United States and Germany, reveal how microorganisms in the gut influence non-Hodgkin lymphoma patient outcomes to a type of cellular immunotherapy called chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, or CAR T.
IAFNS Supports Building Evidence on Live Dietary Microbes Impact on Health
New funding opportunity for microbes and health research.
Join in Building the Evidence to Support Consuming Beneficial Live Microbes in Yogurts and Other Foods
Food manufacturers can now enter data on the safe, live microbes in their products into a global database to support a recommended amount for the diet.
MD Anderson’s Jennifer Wargo receives TAMEST O’Donnell Award for pioneering microbiome research
Jennifer Wargo, M.D., professor of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has received a 2023 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST) for her contributions to the understanding of how the gut microbiome influences responses to immunotherapy and other cancer treatments.
Gut bacteria affect brain health, mouse study shows
Gut bacteria can influence brain health, according to a study of mice genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s-like brain damage. The study, by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, indicates that gut bacteria produce compounds that influence the behavior of immune cells, including ones in the brain that can cause neurodegeneration. The findings suggest a new approach to treating Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
How Gravity May Cause Irritable Bowel Syndrome
A new theory suggests irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the most common gastrointestinal disorder, may be caused by gravity.
Tracing tomatoes’ health benefits to gut microbes
Two weeks of eating a diet heavy in tomatoes increased the diversity of gut microbes and altered gut bacteria toward a more favorable profile in young pigs. After observing these results with a short-term intervention, the research team plans to progress to similar studies in people.
Certain antibiotics are associated with an increased risk of mortality in critically ill patients
Michigan Medicine research suggests that administration of antibiotics with activity against anaerobic bacteria has a profound effect on the gut microbiome and, ultimately, an adverse impact on critically ill patients.
Gut bacteria may contribute to susceptibility to HIV infection, UCLA-led research suggests
New UCLA-led research suggests certain gut bacteria — including one that is essential for a healthy gut microbiome – differ between people who go on to acquire HIV infection compared to those who have not become infected. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal eBioMedicine, suggest that the gut microbiome could contribute to one’s risk for HIV infection, said study lead Dr.
Dietary supplementation may improve antibiotic-induced GVHD following stem cell transplants
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a specific gut bacterium involved in the progression of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after antibiotic treatment of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and discovered that nutritional supplementation can prevent antibiotic-induced GVHD in preclinical models, according to a study published today in Cell.
How the western diet and gut bacteria can lead to scarring, vessel damage in scleroderma
A substance produced by gut microorganisms can lead to scarring and blood vessel damage in patients with scleroderma, a new study suggests. Researchers say they will examine whether drugs or food products, like virgin olive oil, can block the formation of the compound in the gut to treat fibrosis.
Food allergies can be reversed in mice by targeting the microbiome
Treating allergic mice with a form of butyrate — which is produced by good gut bacteria — protects against peanut allergy, scientists report today. The treatment might also counteract other food allergies and inflammatory diseases. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2022.
UCI-led study shows Rhodiola rosea root might be beneficial for managing type 2 diabetes
A team of researchers led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered that treatment with an extract from the roots of the Rhodiola rosea plant might be effective for helping manage type 2 diabetes, showing promise as a safe and effective non-pharmaceutical alternative. The study, recently published online in Scientific Reports, found that in a mouse model of human type 2 diabetes, Rhodiola rosea lowered fasting blood sugar levels, improved response to insulin injections, modulated the composition of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and decreased several biomarkers of inflammation.
Intestinal Abnormalities in People with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Don’t Improve Even When PTSD Symptoms Abate
Article title: Abnormal intestinal milieu in post-traumatic stress disorder is not impacted by treatment that improves symptoms Authors: Robin M. Voigt, Alyson K. Zalta, Shohreh Raeisi, Lijuan Zhang, J. Mark Brown, Christopher B. Forsyth, Randy A. Boley, Philip Held, Mark…
Predictive model uses gut microbes to forecast human diseases, health outcomes
A new approach that uses artificial intelligence shows how to use microorganisms in the body and molecules in cells to predict human health outcomes, according to Penn State College of Medicine and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center researchers.
Lager beer, whether it contains alcohol or not, could help men’s gut microbes
In a pilot study, researchers in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry report that compared to their pre-trial microbiome, men who drank either one alcoholic or non-alcoholic lager daily had a more diverse set of gut microbes, which can reduce the risk for some diseases.
Studies reveal new insights into gut microbiome impact on immunotherapy response in multiple cancers, including glioblastoma
Two studies led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center that shed new light on the potential of the gut microbiome as a targetable biomarker to improve responses to immunotherapy were presented today at the 2022 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
Tipsheet: Cedars-Sinai Experts Share Research, Healthcare Innovations at Digestive Disease Week 2022
Cedars-Sinai physicians and scientists will share their latest advancements and research at Digestive Disease Week, known as DDW, an international scientific and clinical meeting featuring the work of physicians and researchers in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery. DDW will take place May 21-24 in San Diego, California, and is available for virtual attendance.
Move Over, Gut Microbiota—Skin and Mouth Bacteria May Help Regulate Blood Pressure Too
New research in rats finds specific bacteria populations in the mouth and on the skin may be beneficial in blood pressure regulation. The first-of-its-kind study is published ahead of print in Physiological Genomics.
Recurrent UTIs linked to gut microbiome, chronic inflammation
A study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard suggests that women who get recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) may be caught in a vicious cycle in which antibiotics given to eradicate one infection predispose them to develop another.
McMaster scientists pinpoint key trigger of Crohn’s disease
Researchers gleaned their results by analyzing blood and biopsy samples from two groups totalling 18 people with Crohn’s disease, comparing them to a matching number of people from two healthy control groups. A mouse model of IBD was also used. Khan said his study was the first demonstration of the interaction between serotonin, autophagy and gut microbiota in intestinal inflammation. The paper was published by Science Advances today. Sabah Haq, a PhD student who works with Khan, is first author.
Cleveland Clinic Study Links Gut Microbiome and Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Cleveland Clinic researchers have shown for the first time that diet-associated molecules in the gut are associated with aggressive prostate cancer, suggesting dietary interventions may help reduce risk. Findings from the study were published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
How high-fat diets allow cancer cells to go unnoticed
A high-fat diet increases the incidence of colorectal cancer. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Fellow Semir Beyaz and collaborators from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have discovered that in mice, fat disrupts the relationship between intestinal cells and the immune cells that patrol them looking for emerging tumors.
Probiotic-Containing Yogurt Protects Against Microbiome Changes That Lead to Antibiotic-Induced Diarrhea, Study Finds
Eating yogurt containing a particular strain of a well-studied probiotic appears to protect against harmful changes in the gut microbiome that are associated with antibiotic administration.
Our genes shape our gut bacteria, new research shows
In the study, published recently in Science, researchers discovered that most bacteria in the gut microbiome are heritable after looking at more than 16,000 gut microbiome profiles collected over 14 years from a long-studied population of baboons in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.
Common plant fiber gel doubled rate of tumor eradication
Many people don’t realize that the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi residing within the gastrointestinal tract––collectively called the gut microbiome–– are connected to overall health, and specifically to cancer.
Research provides a roadmap to HIV eradication via stem cell therapy
A groundbreaking study found that stem cells reduce the amount of virus causing AIDS, boost the body’s antiviral immunity, and restore the gut’s lymphoid follicles damaged by HIV. It provided a roadmap for multi-pronged HIV eradication strategies.
Switching from Western diet to a balanced diet may reduce skin, joint inflammation
Diet rich in sugar and fat leads to disruption in the gut’s microbial culture and contributes to inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Research shows that switching to a more balanced diet restores the gut’s health and suppresses inflammation.
No Clear Evidence Low-Calorie Sweeteners Harm Gut Microbiome but More Studies Warranted
New paper explores links among the diet, gut microbiota and health status.
Thirdhand smoke impacts gut bacteria for infants, study finds
Infants exposed to thirdhand smoke while hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) show a difference in the composition of their gut microbiome, according to a new study by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Association between Hypertension and Gut Microbiome Imbalance during Pregnancy May Lead to New Preeclampsia Treatments
Article title: Gestational gut microbial remodeling is impaired in a rat model of preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension Authors: Jeanne A. Ishimwe, Adesanya Akinleye, Ashley C. Johnson, Michael R. Garrett, Jennifer M. Sasser From the authors: “These results reveal an…
Fecal Transplant Turns Cancer Immunotherapy Non-Responders into Responders
A phase II clinical trial shows that changing the gut microbiome through fecal transplant can transform cancer patients who never responded to immunotherapy into patients who do.
Gut Microbiome Manipulation Could Result from Virus Discovery
Scientists have discovered how a common virus in the human gut infects and takes over bacterial cells – a finding that could be used to control the composition of the gut microbiome, which is important for human health. The Rutgers co-authored research, which could aid efforts to engineer beneficial bacteria that produce medicines and fuels and clean up pollutants, is published in the journal Nature.
What Can the Gut Microbiome Tell Us About Health?
ILSI North America hosts Dr. Jaeyun Sung of the Mayo Clinic to discuss with participants the development of a gut microbiome-based health index.
Parties Convene for Consistent Measures of Gut, Nutrition, Health
Washington D.C. — Building consistent ways to measure intestinal processes can improve our understanding of how diet, nutrition and health interact. Three expert groups are converging to inform standards for characterizing the “gut microbiome” — the collection of bacteria and…
Study Provides First Evidence of a Relationship between a Bird’s Gut and its Brain
A study of the relationships between cognition and the gut microbiome of captive zebra finches showed that their gut microbiome characteristics were related to performance on a cognitive assay where they learned a novel foraging technique. Researchers also identified potentially critical bacteria that were relatively more abundant in birds that performed better on this assay. This correlation provides some of the first evidence of a relationship between a bird’s gut microbiome and its brain.