“Health claims for probiotics are evaluated by the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies of the European Food Safety Authority. Despite a substantial amount of basic and clinical research on the beneficial effects of probiotics, all of the evaluated claim applications thus far have received a negative opinion. With the restrictions on the use of clinical endpoints, validated biomarkers for gut health and immune health in relation to reduction in disease risk are needed. Clear-cut criteria for design as well as evaluation of future studies are needed. An open dialogue between basic and clinical scientists, regulatory authorities, food and nutrition industry, and consumers could bridge the gap between science and marketing of probiotics.”
Not sure what to make of this other than the comment that ‘clear-cut criteria’ will be needed to actually turn claims into science.
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“Horizontal gene transfer — the exchange of genetic material between different species or lineages — is an important factor in bacterial evolution. A study of human microbiome data comprising more than 2,000 full bacterial genomes shows that this environment is a hotbed of horizontal gene transfer: pairs of bacteria isolated from the human body are 25-fold more likely to share transferred DNA than pairs from other environments. Thus microbial ecology — rather than phylogeny or geography — is the most important driver of the patterns of horizontal gene exchange. Further analysis revealed 42 unique antibiotic-resistance genes that had been transferred between human and agricultural isolates, and 43 transfers across national borders.”
This paper sets me spinning due to it being about microbes, microbes on humans, human microbial ecology, and horizontal gene transfer. The other thing that is intriguing about this paper is the mention of unique antibiotic-resistance genes.
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“During the upcoming holidays, many events will involve traditional foods, such as turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas. That microorganisms can spoil any of these foods, and thereby the entire party, is well known, but perhaps less obvious is the fact that microbiological processes are involved in the production of nearly all types of food. … As made clear by the recent Position statement on food security and safety … microbiologists can have a pivotal role in this important field. The position statement outlines nine research themes through which microbiologists can participate in food safety and security, including the investigation of microorganisms that cause food poisoning or kill crops and livestock, as well as research into the ways in which microorganisms can improve food production.”
Interesting overview of the impact of microorganisms in food production and safety.
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“In their constant battles with competitors and the host immune system, (opportunistic) microbial pathogens have developed sophisticated cell–cell communication systems termed quorum sensing (QS) that allow exchange of critical information. In return, competing microbes, as well as the host immune system, have developed means to intercept and decode these messages. The information obtained by this molecular espionage is used for their benefit, either to win the war (microbe against microbe), or to prepare for an upcoming battle (microbe against immune system).”
Not surprising, but quite fascinating.
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“What’s the news: If bacteria had blood, the predatory microbe Micavibrio aeruginosavorus would essentially be a vampire: it subsists by hunting down other bugs, attaching to them, and sucking their life out. For the first time, researchers have sequenced the genome of this strange microorganism, which was first identified decades ago in sewage water. The sequence will help better understand the unique bacterium, which has potential to be used as a “living antibiotic” due to its ability to attack drug-resistant biofilms and its apparent fondness for dining on pathogens.”
Absolutely awesome. And if there’s one bug that does this, there must be many many more.
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“There is a multimillion-dollar industry based on the concept that introducing beneficial bacteria into the human intestines will improve our health. The trillions of symbionts in the large intestine profoundly affect our metabolism and immunity. Accordingly, abnormal bacterial communities have been identified in several human diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (1–3), colon cancer (4, 5), irritable bowel syndrome (6), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (7). The composition of microbial communities is generally stable within each individual. Past studies of the gut microbiota emphasized the huge impact of nutrition (8), which is likely to outweigh that of the host genotype (9).”
Nice review, with some references too. But it really rounds up and summarizes the latest. Also points to an article in the same issue that reports on some really interesting findings. Alas, not Open Access.
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“There is growing evidence that the intestinal microbiota interacts with the host central nervous system (CNS) to modify stress responses and anxiety behaviour; this is the so-called gut–brain axis. Bravo et al.Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1 can alter the transcript level for receptors of the neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) in the CNS in a region-dependent manner.”
Yet one more data point on the bugs-gut story.
[This is not an open access article. Boo. Hiss.]
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“Prebiotics are selectively fermented ingredients that allow specific changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota that confer health benefits to the host. However, the effects of prebiotics on the human gut microbiota are incomplete as most studies have relied on methods that fail to cover the breadth of the bacterial community. The goal of this research was to use high throughput multiplex community sequencing of 16S rDNA tags to gain a community wide perspective of the impact of prebiotic galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on the fecal microbiota of healthy human subjects.”
I’ve seen a ton of papers on “probiotics”, but I think this is the first I’ve heard of “prebiotics”. There is mounting data about the effect of gut bugs on our own systems, and there is a growing set of data on how our diet affects our gut bugs. A wee Google search shows that there’s been a lot of papers data on specific foods that selectively promote the growth of specific gut bugs.
Hm, this is really interesting. It all seems to be coming together. My suggestion: if you’re a grad student or a post-doc in biology, human gut microbiology and ecology is gonna be a big topic in the near future. It’s gonna change the face of medicine.
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“”Laurie Cox, a graduate student who works in the lab, held up the test tube with the 100-year-old bacterium. She explained that they can determine if the spores are alive by their growth, which should be visible within 24 hours. “I think it’s really interesting and amazing to be able to culture bacteria that’s over 100 years old and to see what we can do with it,” she said. Dr. Blaser said they will attempt to sequence the genome and compare it with a modern organism to see how things have changed. “We’ve had 70 years of antibiotics, so the question is, have there been new changes in the bacterial genome from the time of that organism,” he said on Tuesday. “It’s an opportunity to compare our ancient organisms with our modern ones.”"
Really cool. I wonder how many old vials are stored away with interesting bacterial samples.
[via @bruces and @paleofuture]
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“In the past year, the idea of a “polypill” combining several cheap, well-tested heart drugs has gained momentum, although it still has its critics. … But some question whether a pop-a-pill mentality should be encouraged, and many cardiologists are sharply critical of the potential risks inherent in one-size-fits-all treatment of patients who are not at risk.”
I’m thinking more a personalized poly-pill. Indeed, multi-drug interactions don’t seem to be studied enough. Though I think there’s an opportunity here.
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