Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel have identified a yeast that could be used to prevent invasive candidiasis, a major cause of death in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. The study, to be published March 18 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), shows that the novel yeast lives harmlessly in the intestines of mice and humans and can displace the yeast responsible for candidiasis, Candida albicans.
Tag: Microbiome
University of Maryland, Baltimore Researchers Call for Regulation of Direct-to-Consumer Microbiome Tests
Burgeoning interest in the microbiome has led to a growing demand for direct-to-consumer (DTC) microbiome testing services.
EcoFABs Could Lead to Better Bioenergy Crops
A greater understanding of how plants and microbes work together to store vast amounts of atmospheric carbon in the soil will help in the design of better bioenergy crops for the fight against climate change. Deciphering the mechanics of this mutually beneficial relationship is, however, challenging as conditions in nature are extremely difficult for scientists to replicate in the laboratory. To address this challenge, researchers created fabricated ecosystems or EcoFABs.
Do sugar-free candy and gum give you gas? Researchers think they know why
Scientists at the UC Davis School of Medicine may have figured out why some people have trouble digesting sorbitol, a sugar alcohol used in sugar-free gum, mints, candy and other products.
Bar-Ilan University study reveals microbiome changes linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by decreased social communication and repetitive behaviors, has long intrigued scientists seeking to unravel its underlying mechanisms.
Why studying astronauts’ microbiomes is crucial to ensure deep space mission success
Space exploration is a complex and risky mission that requires careful preparation and a thorough understanding of the challenges inherent to life in space
New Technology Unscrambles the Chatter of Microbes
Researchers from University of California San Diego have developed a new search tool to that can match microbes to the metabolites they produce with no prior knowledge, an innovation that could transform our understanding of both human health and the environment.
New study unveiled burn injury disrupts gut microbiome and weakens intestinal mucus barrier
The gut microbiota, a complex ecosystem within the human intestinal tract, is increasingly recognized for its vital role in human health and disease.
A relational framework for microbiome research that includes Indigenous communities
Research and collection of microbiome samples from Indigenous communities has a history of exploiting and harming Indigenous peoples
Doubling Down on Known Protein Families
Through a novel approach detailed in Nature, a massive computational analysis of microbiome datasets more than doubled the number of known protein families. This is the first time protein structures have been used to help characterize the vast array of microbial “dark matter.”
Using Different Flours for Sourdough Fosters Different Bacteria – and Flavors
A new study of the microbial ecosystem in sourdough finds that using different types of flour fosters distinct bacterial communities, and that these differences contribute to the variation of sourdough aromas and flavors.
New Analytical Tool Reduces Errors in Genetic Analysis and Research
The software’s creators have used it to study cancer’s microbiome and made it freely available to the research community.
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.
Not all viruses are harmful
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people became well aware that viruses can be extremely harmful. But can viruses also be helpful? Bryan Hsu aims to find out by studying viruses that infect bacteria in the bellies of mammals.
Discrimination alters brain-gut ‘crosstalk,’ prompting poor food choices and increased health risks
People frequently exposed to racial or ethnic discrimination may be more susceptible to obesity and related health risks in part because of a stress response that changes biological processes and how we process food cues according to UCLA research.
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.
More Studies Needed to Understand True Impact of Microbiota on Cancer Development, Treatment
How microbiota — microbes that live on human surfaces — impact cancer development and therapy has become an expansive area of research.
Lack of maternal care affects development, microbiome and health of wild bees
Most wild bees are solitary, but one tiny species of carpenter bees fastidiously cares for and raises their offspring, an act that translates into huge benefits to the developing bee’s microbiome, development and health, found York University researchers.
Only Severe COVID Cases Disrupted Oral Microbiomes
Bacteria in the mouth mostly survived infection — and that’s a good thing, says a Rutgers researcher.
Race-based variations in gut bacteria emerge by 3 months of age
Variations in the gut microbiome are linked to the incidence and mortality of diseases. A new study highlights a critical development window during which these differences emerge. The findings are based on analysis of data from 2,756 gut microbiome samples from 729 U.S. children between birth and 12 years of age.
New Resource Harmonizes 16S and Shotgun Sequencing Data for Microbiome Research
UC San Diego scientists debut Greengenes2, a massive reference database that could be used to reconcile years of microbiome studies.
Menstrual cups can help prevent infection, improve vaginal health
Kenyan teenage girls who were given menstrual cups were less likely to acquire certain kinds of vaginal infections and were more likely to have a healthy vaginal microbiome, found a study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers.
Scientists Name Top Five Foods Rich in Prebiotics
There is growing evidence that consuming prebiotics — certain types of fiber often found in plants that stimulate beneficial bacteria in your gut — can help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. In a new study, scientists estimated the prebiotic content of thousands of food types by using preexisting literature to find out which foods offer the highest prebiotic content.
NUTRITION 2023 Press Materials Available Now
Press materials are now available for NUTRITION 2023, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).
Trevor Charles appointed to the Phytobiomes Alliance Board of Directors
The International Alliance for Phytobiomes Research is pleased to announce the appointment of Trevor Charles, Professor in the Department of Biology at University of Waterloo in Canada and Director of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research, as a new Board member of the organization
Sponges and their microbiome: Interacting for millions of years
For a number of years, mounting evidence has shown that the microbiome – the totality of all microorganisms that inhabit a living being – interacts with its host in various ways and can influence key life processes.
Differences in alcohol metabolism play a role in the severity of alcohol hangovers
Hangovers are common among people who drink alcohol. Previous research showing that a hangover’s combination of both mental and physical misery can occur after a single episode of alcohol consumption also revealed that a rapid breakdown of alcohol into acetaldehyde is associated with less severe hangovers. Findings from an investigation of the metabolic influence of oral microbiota on hangover severity will be shared at the 46th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) in Bellevue, Washington.
Gene Expression in Kidneys Is Regulated by the Microbiome in Sex- and Tissue-specific Ways
Article title: Commensal microbiota regulate renal gene expression in a sex-specific manner Authors: Brittni N. Moore and Jennifer L. Pluznick From the authors: “This report demonstrates that renal gene expression is modulated by the microbiome in a sex- and tissue-specific…
CHOP Researchers Show that IgA Fine Tunes the Body’s Interactions with Microbes
A new study by researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has demonstrated that IgA acts as a “tuner” that regulates the number of microbes the body sees every day, restraining the systemic immune response to these commensal microbes and limiting the development of systemic immune dysregulation.
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,…
Fred Hutch at AACR: New targets for cancer therapies, experts available in diversity and cancer screening tests — and Fred Hutch’s Philip Greenberg becomes AACR president
Experts from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center will present their latest findings on targets in RIT1-driven cancers, ROR1 CAR T-cell immunotherapy, interplay of the microbiome and genetics in colorectal cancer and more at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, to be held April 14-19 in Orlando, Florida.
Modified Mediterranean Ketogenic Diet May Benefit Adults at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
Following a Mediterranean-based ketogenic diet may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study from scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
The heart benefits of walnuts likely come from the gut
A new study examining the gene expression of gut microbes suggests that the heart-healthy benefits of walnuts may be linked to beneficial changes in the mix of microbes found in our gut.
Your Gut’s Microbiome, On a Chip
In APL Bioengineering, researchers describe how gut-on-a-chip devices can bridge lab models and human biology. Modeling the microbiome is particularly difficult because of its unique environmental conditions, but through creative design, gut-on-a-chip devices can simulate many of these properties, such as the gut’s anaerobic atmosphere, fluid flow, and pulses of contraction/relaxation. Growing intestinal cells in this environment means that they more closely resemble human biology compared to standard laboratory cell cultures.
UCLA receives $20 million to establish Goodman–Luskin Microbiome Center
A $20 million gift from Andrea and Donald Goodman and Renee and Meyer Luskin will fund a new center at UCLA focused on the microbiome and its effect on health.
MD Anderson and Federation Bio announce collaboration to develop novel microbiome treatment for patients with immunotherapy-resistant cancers
MD Anderson and Federation Bio announced a strategic collaboration to design and manufacture a synthetic microbial consortium with the goal of improving responses in immunotherapy-resistant cancers.
Gut bugs control the body’s thermostat
A new University of Michigan study reveals the gut microbiome’s role in regulating body temperature.
Mayo Clinic researchers link ovarian cancer to bacteria colonization in microbiome
A specific colonization of microbes in the reproductive tract is commonly found in women with ovarian cancer, according to a new study from Mayo Clinic’s Center for Individualized Medicine. The discovery, published in Scientific Reports, strengthens evidence that the bacterial component of the microbiome — a community of microorganisms that also consists of viruses, yeasts and fungi — is an important indicator for early detection, diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer.
Cannabis and the oral microbiome: Exploring their impacts on the brain
Inspiration strikes when you least expect it. For Wei Jiang, M.D., a professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), inspiration came in 2018 on a smoke-filled boat tour around Amsterdam during an international conference.
Tissue-Specific Immunity May Be the Future, if We Can First Learn its Rules
UC San Diego study reveals critical insights into the complex biology of tissue-specific T cells, paving the way for a new branch of precision therapeutics in immunity, autoimmunity, and cancer.
Poor Gut Health May Drive Multiple Sclerosis — Better Diet May Ease It
A Rutgers study shows how digestive inflammation may drive MS and provides further evidence that more fiber by combat the condition.
Microbial miners could help humans colonize the moon and Mars
The biochemical process by which cyanobacteria acquire nutrients from rocks in Chile’s Atacama Desert has inspired engineers at the University of California, Irvine to think of new ways microbes might help humans build colonies on the moon and Mars.
MD Anderson Research Highlights: SITC 2022 Special Edition
This special edition features upcoming presentations by MD Anderson researchers at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 37th Annual Meeting, including immunotherapy advances in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck cancers, microbiome signatures linked with specialized immune-cell clusters, and promising early activity from novel immunotherapy drugs in advanced melanoma and colorectal cancer.
Restoring the gut biome after antibiotics could lead to better outcomes for ovarian cancer patients
Antibiotics routinely used in ovarian cancer care indiscriminately kill gut bacteria, leading to faster cancer progression and lower survival rates, according to recent Cleveland Clinic research.
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.
First-Ever Mycobiome Atlas Describes Associations between Cancers and Fungi
An international team of scientists, co-led by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, has created the first pan-cancer mycobiome atlas — a survey of 35 types of cancer and their associated fungi
What if some stress actually protects your body?
Stress has been linked to all sorts of serious health issues, from insomnia to high blood pressure, obesity and even heart disease. But it’s generally acknowledged that some stress can also be helpful, like when someone’s chasing a work deadline. But what if some level of stress can actually protect the body? A new study by researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, with findings published Sept. 26 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests the immune system may benefit from a measure of stress.
UCSF-Led Research Team Reveals Mechanisms at Work in Progression of Pancreatic Cysts to Cancer
A UC San Francisco-led team of international researchers has outlined the comprehensive immune landscape and microbiome of pancreatic cysts as they progress from benign cysts to pancreatic cancer. Their findings, publishing August 31 in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, could reveal the mechanism of neoplastic progression and provide targets for immunotherapy to inhibit progression or treat invasive disease.
Media Briefing Schedule for ACS Fall 2022
Media Briefing Schedule for ACS Fall 2022
Alcohol Use Can Alter Gut Microbes, but Not in the Way You Might Think
In mouse studies, UC San Diego researchers find that excess alcohol consumption alters gut microbiome but latter is not directly or significantly linked to liver disease.