GutMind

"Developing this imaging technique was an exciting challenge," said Dodge, a key contributor to the study. "It allowed us to see the interactions of individual bacteria cells with the host gut in unprecedented detail." They found that L. plantarum isolated from the guts of wild fruit flies was able to stably attach to host tissue whereas L. plantarum from humans and other sources formed only transient attachments. With this information in hand, the researchers set out to determine the genetic basis for this super-affinity. Through diligent and painstaking work, they were able to identify a set of genes for symbiotic gut colonization within a niche. "By identifying the genes that enable L. plantarum to colonize specific niches, we now have the insights into how to engineer greater precision into other bacteria," said Aumiller, a co-lead author on the project. "This opens the door to creating probiotics that are optimized for specific niches in the human gut." https://lnkd.in/eY6yTDcK

Holiday greetings from Bacterissima™. Merry Xmax, everyone, and we wish you and your microbes a wonderful 2025!!

“Published in Scientific Reports, the study reveals that subjects with high numbers of blood low density lipoproteins (LDL)—commonly known as "bad cholesterol"—have higher inflammation in their adipose tissue than those with low LDL. The team also demonstrated that, in subjects with high blood LDL, adipose tissue inflammation was associated with abnormalities in carbohydrate (sugar) and fat metabolism that increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, by combining clinical and basic research, the study revealed that fish-oil omega-3 supplementation was effective in inhibiting the effects of LDL on adipose tissue inflammation and its association to risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 supplementation also improved the anomalies in carbohydrate and fat metabolism in all subjects.” https://lnkd.in/eRAbyiCq

"With the growing number of digestive cancers, such as bowel cancer, being diagnosed worldwide, and increasingly in people under 50 years old, it's time for action to protect people's digestive health." The findings support the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) guidelines that advocate for diets rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, while limiting red and processed meat, sugary drinks and processed foods. https://lnkd.in/eY-j_xyV.

“At the heart of the debate is a question: are upfs unhealthy because their nutritional content is poor, or does the processing somehow pose risks in itself? New research may soon provide answers that could reformulate what people eat…the results suggest that excess amounts of salt, sugar and fats might not be fully to blame for the ill effects of processed food…Another theory—as anyone who has tried, and failed, to eat just one crisp from a bag can attest—is that highly processed foods are also engineered to be irresistible. UPFs often contain combinations of nutrients—higher in either fat and sugar or fat and salt, or carbohydrates and salt—known as “hyper-palatable” mixes. These combinations do not appear in nature and tend to encourage people to eat more quickly, not giving the gut enough time to tell the brain that it is full…if it turns out to be a “combinatorial nightmare” of many ingredients or processes that cause harm only in certain combinations, solving the problems of UPFs will become much more challenging…. Even if the results show conclusively that processing, and not just nutrients, leads to poor health, policymakers will face another difficulty: the definition of UPFs remains woolly.” ://https://lnkd.in/ecgNZ9mT.

“Most of us know that eating too much sugar isn’t good for us. With its consumption being linked to health dangers like obesity, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, sugar is high on most our lists of vices worth giving up. But it turns out that reducing sugar intake not only helps you avoid the harms of overconsumption—it can also bring about surprising upsides you won’t have to wait long to benefit from. These include "improved mood, skin health, dental hygiene, cognitive function, and even athletic performance," says Amy Goodson, a nutritionist and registered dietitian based in Dallas.” https://lnkd.in/gZxmfMms

“Although we don’t have the data to support a causal linkage between bacteria and cancer at this point, our study suggests that bacteria do play a role in these cancers and seem to drive their development – particularly, we think, at an early stage,” says Chan. https://lnkd.in/ePRitFYj.

“While some studies show glimpses of benefits, and others suggest that there’s little effect at all, for the time being there simply isn’t enough strong data either way. In other words, there’s little scientific justification for upping your intake of fermented foods solely for the purpose of improving your gut health. On the flip side, eating them won’t do most people any harm – many probiotic foods can be good sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber – though there are some cases where certain fermented foods should be avoided. Kombucha, for example, is often recommended to be avoided by people with compromised immune systems, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.” https://lnkd.in/e8p2fcUa.

“Traditionally, we've kept the visible and invisible forms of life separate in the way we consider and study them. Many scientists still think of microbes in terms of background noise or minor contaminants. But it turns out that this approach may have been selling the microbes short. "Microbes are the base of the biosphere," Bordenstein explains. "Every host organism lives in contact and association with microbes, and those microbes can cause variation in traits." This realization has given birth to a new concept - holobiont biology; a multidisciplinary and holistic understanding of how life's forms and functions depend upon relationships between microorganisms and their hosts. Holobiont biology considers organisms and the microbes with which they are inseparably linked as a whole, rather than as separate entities.” https://lnkd.in/erC7pkBQ

“The researchers specifically examined how these archaea engage in antagonistic interactions, where one microorganism kills or inhibits the growth of another, with a focus on Halogeometricum borinquense and Haloferax volcanii. The study reveals that H. borinquense attacks H. volcanii, leading to cell lysis and growth inhibition in H. volcanii. Crucially, this antagonistic behavior is contact-dependent, meaning the two organisms must physically interact for the effect to occur. The process also requires the expression of a contractile injection system—a molecular machine that can be imagined as a spring-loaded dagger.” https://lnkd.in/eJUk4ck9