Gut bacteria found to help protect brain and central nervous system from harmful viruses

A compelling new study has described a novel association between viral infections, neurodegenerative disease, the gut microbiome, and our immune system. The research suggests gut bacteria disruptions can allow harmful viruses to trigger neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

To begin, the researchers looked at two different groups of mice, both infected with a specific strain of hepatitis virus known to result in acute encephalomyelitis. This animal model is found to resemble neurodegenerative symptoms similar to those seen in multiple sclerosis. One group of mice was raised with a healthy microbiome, while the other group was subjected to various microbiome disruptions, including doses of antibiotics known to eliminate many gut bacterial populations.

Those mice with the disrupted microbiomes displayed significantly weakened immune responses to the hepatitis virus, and ultimately showed worse signs of neurodegeneration, including paralysis. Interestingly, those mice with disrupted microbiomes also showed less active brain immune cells, called microglia, than the healthy mice.

Much more at: https://newatlas.com/gut-bacteria-microbiome-...brain-degeneration/60623/

Study finds colon cancer rates rising for patients under 50

The increase of colon cancer cases for patients under 50 can't be easily explained.

CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook said, "The most intriguing possibility to me is it has something to do with the gut microbiome. That's the trillions of bacteria and hundreds of species in our gut. And it turns out that certain species are linked to increased risk of colon polyps and colon cancer. Maybe we're messing up our gut microbiome with antibiotics and our modern diet."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colon-cancer-stu...ng-for-patients-under-50/

New research uncovers compelling link between gut bacteria, obesity and the immune system

An impressive new study from scientists at the University of Utah has described how an impaired immune system can alter the composition of the gut microbiome resulting in metabolic disease and obesity. Demonstrated in mouse experiments, the research suggests certain species of gut bacteria can prevent the gut from absorbing fat, pointing to exciting potential future anti-obesity therapies.

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"We've stumbled onto a relatively unexplored aspect of type 2 diabetes and obesity," says Round. "Now that we've found the minimal bacteria responsible for this slimming effect, we have the potential to really understand what the organisms are doing and whether they have therapeutic value."

Much more at: https://newatlas.com/obesity-microbiome-immune-system-gut-bacteria/60766/

Human Microbiome Genetic Diversity Comparable to Number of Stars in Observable Universe

An analysis of microbial genes in the human gut and oral microbiomes has yielded results suggesting that the collective microbiome may contain more genes than there are stars in the observable universe. Scientists in the United States and Canada have generated a catalog and searchable web resource detailing tens of millions of microbial genes identified throught their first-sweep analysis of thousands of human samples. Their findings, reported in Cell Host & Microbe suggest that the mouth and gut microbiomes comprise "staggering" microbial genetic diversity, and found that at least half of all the genes identified were unique to an individual.

https://www.genengnews.com/news/human-microbi...s-in-observable-universe/

Opportunities in Cancer Research: The Immune System and Microbiome / National Institutes of Health / National Cancer Institute

Cancer Immunotherapy has emerged as a powerful tool in cancer treatment. The key insight was that a patient's own immune system could be harnessed to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Thanks to decades of NIH- and NCI- funded basic research, this insight has led to new treatments that have saved or extended the lives of many patients.

https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/budget/plan/immune-system-and-cancer