To celebrate #WorldMicrobiomeDay, the Biocodex Microbiota Institute is handing the floor to national grant winners.
To celebrate #WorldMicrobiomeDay, Biocodex Microbiota Institute is handing the floor to national grant winners.
Predicting the effectiveness of treatments for diseases such as cancer is no easy task. This may all change thanks to promising research on the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk). Further details on this (very) beneficial bacterium below.
The gut microbiota
Immunotherapy is now a common treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only 35% of patients experience long-term benefits from this treatment. Identifying biomarkers of response to immunotherapy may thus improve patients’ chances of survival.
Researchers at the Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute in France had already shown that the presence of Akkermansia in the gut microbiota was associated with clinical benefits in patients treated with immunotherapy.
The work of Lisa Derosa’s team, the results of which were published in prestigious medical journal Nature Medicine in 2022, goes one step further. The team investigated Akkermansia’s potential as a predictive marker of survival and response to immunotherapy among NSCLC patients.
They monitored 338 patients undergoing immunotherapy for four years :
The first finding was that patients with Akkermansia in their microbiota responded better to treatment: the Akk+ group had an overall survival of 18.8 months, compared to 15.4 months for the Akk- group.
Another finding was that, unlike the Akk- group, the Akk+ patients had greater microbial diversity in their microbiota, which included bacteria with recognized beneficial effects on health and immune status, such as bifidobacteria, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium hallii.
Unsurprisingly, antibiotic use had an adverse effect on overall survival for both the Akk+ and Akk- groups, confirming the link between the use of antibiotics and a poor clinical outcome.
Akkermansia is therefore of major interest. The bacterium may offer a new therapeutic approach targeting the microbiota, thus giving hope to NSCLC patients.
To be continued.
"Great news" - Peggy Rhinelander (From My health, my microbiota)
The gut microbiota has already been studied as a potential diagnostic tool for osteoporosis. Now its role in the disease is being clarified. The work of a Chinese team has highlighted its potential role in the absorption of vitamin D. Further details below.
Microbiota. You’ve just discovered this word. Well, first good news: you are on the right article to know more about it. What is behind this word? What are the major breakthrough? What we still have to discover? Dr. Deanna Gibson tells you everything about it.
BMI 22.34
The gut microbiota Obesity IBD Type 2 diabetes Diet Probiotics Fecal transplant
Deanna Gibson: Just over a decade ago, scientists came to appreciate how widespread and vast the effects that the microbiota has on human health. Still, while much excitement grew over the years of finding the microbiome as a major factor associated with many disease conditions, a healthy dose of skepticism was also present to try and explain how a major piece of the puzzle had been missed to explain major diseases like:
Breakthroughs, ~ a decade ago, came from the use of (sidenote: Germ-free mice mice that have no microbes at all, raised in sterile conditions. ) often transplanted with human feces from various disease conditions, which guided our view that the microbiome was central to many mammalian physiological processes. Early evidence demonstrated that the human gut was a perfect environment for many microbes, which helped propel the beneficial relationship between us and our microbes. The (sidenote: Microorganisms Living organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea and protozoa, and are commonly referred to as “microbes”. What is microbiology? Microbiology Society. ) themselves are vital for balanced and effective immune responses since pieces of them act like a key in our guts, unlocking responses that keep us protected and healthy.
“The microorganisms are vital for balanced and effective immune responses.”
Obesity studies revealing relationships between the gut microbiome and energy metabolism using fecal transplants from humans into germ-free mice,2 transformed how we understood the gut microorganisms' role in causing and regulating obesity. These observations captivated us since a few clever experiments uncovered that (sidenote: Western diet Diet rich in processed foods, refined sugar, salt, saturated fats (red meats) and trans fats (pastries) Zinöcker MK, Lindseth IA. The Western Diet-Microbiome-Host Interaction and Its Role in Metabolic Disease. Nutrients. 2018 Mar 17;10(3):365. ) intake resulted in the extinction of microbes and this was compounded over several generations.3
Effectively, the western gut, starved of fiber, had been replaced with microbes that chew away at our protective (sidenote: Mucus Protective substance that’s excreted from multiple areas of the body (mouth, throat, lungs, intestines, stomach ... Mucus itself consists of multiple constituents, but its major component is a substance called mucin. The mucins in mucus can work as a selective barrier, lubricant, or viscous material depending on their structure. Recent studies have shown that the maturation and function of the mucus layer are strongly influenced by the gut microbiota. Brandtzaeg P. (2017) Role of the Intestinal Immune System in Health. In: Baumgart D. (eds) Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Springer, Cham. Schroeder BO. Fight them or feed them: how the intestinal mucus layer manages the gut microbiota. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2019 Feb;7(1):3-12. ) in the gut potentiating colonic erosion and an unhealthy gut.4 These compelling studies shaped the way we viewed the microbiome and the undeniable evidence that indeed the microbiome was a key factor in many chronic diseases.
Many scientists posit that a bridge between the gut and the brain promotes brain morphology, neurogenesis, and complex behaviors. There is considerable evidence that molecules or (sidenote: Metabolites Small molecules produced during cellular or bacterial metabolism. For example, short-chain fatty acids are metabolites produced by intestinal microbiota during fermentation of non-digestible complex carbohydrates (fibers, etc.). Silva YP, Bernardi A, Frozza RL. The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:25. Lamichhane S, Sen P, Dickens AM, et al An overview of metabolomics data analysis: current tools and future perspectives. Comprehensive analytical chemistry. 2018 ; 82: 387-413 ) influenced by the microorganisms, perhaps even produced by microbes, can signal through the central nervous system influencing behaviors including psychosis, anxiety, even personality, and certainly neuroinflammatory conditions.5
Still scientists must affirm a causal role of the microbiota on brain processes. A recent study uncovered the role the gut microbiota has on social behaviors through neuronal circuits that mediate stress responses in the brain. It seems that specific bacteria in our gut flora may limit the activation of specific brain neuronal axis.6 This breakthrough in the colliding fields of the gut microbiota and neurology gives us hope that by changing the microorganisms we harbor in our bodies, we can have better control over our moods, choices, and cognitive function.
D.G.: Many people have indeed acknowledged that the gut microbiota is considered our second brain. The evidence supports that the microbiota is implicit in controlling physiological processes that influence human health and disease. While a healthy degree of skepticism is needed when evaluating microbiome data, specific key evidence would be hard to refute, including the role of the gut microbiota in energy metabolism with consequences to metabolic health. Additionally, it is clear that the gut microbiota also influences cardiovascular health since studies using mice that have no microbes at all have less vascular development.
“The types of microbes present in the gut can predict cancer therapy success.”
Other critical physiological effects of the gut microbiota include immune cell development, (sidenote: Immune tolerance State of unresponsiveness of the immune system to substances or tissues that have the potential to induce an immune response. Immune tolerance_Nature portfolio ) , brain development, liver function, and even infectious disease susceptibility. Finally, the evidence that the gut microbiota promotes cancer therapies is compelling. Datum show that the types of microbes present in the gut can predict cancer therapy success, revealing the microbes themselves are active players in host drug metabolism.
Innovative therapies that focus on changing the microbiome, including those for inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, autism, and fecal transplantations for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infections, may be more successful than current therapies, including antibiotics treatment. The latter reveal at least something in the feces of healthy people, whether a microbe, consortium of microbes, or metabolites, can cure C. difficile infection. Studying single and or several combined microorganisms as drugs for specific diseases will be vital in confirming the microbiota's place in modern medicine.
The only validated indication for FMT is recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. This practice may present health risks and must be performed under medical supervision, do not reproduce at home!
D.G.: While we have learned over the past decade that we must pay attention to the large plethora of microbes living inside (and outside) our bodies, we have only scratched the surface of the microbiome field. In the next decade, we aspire to ascribe specific mechanistic roles to specific types of microbes in the microbiome, which will further help identify new and effective probiotics.
“We have only scratched the surface of the microbiome field.”
Now that we can appreciate how an unbalanced microbiota ( (sidenote: Dysbiosis Generally defined as an alteration in the composition and function of the microbiota caused by a combination of environmental and individual-specific factors. Levy M, Kolodziejczyk AA, Thaiss CA, et al. Dysbiosis and the immune system. Nat Rev Immunol. 2017;17(4):219-232. ) ) is associated with several diseases, we must learn how to reset this dysfunctional microbiome with the hope that this will also reset the inflammatory and metabolic processes the microbiome influences.
Given that recent evidence supports that drug metabolism is altered by microbiota, the future of medicine will have to be personalized. Every individual has their own set of microbes that make up their microbiome, meaning a more personalized approach to solving medical problems will be unavoidable.
“The future of medicine will have to be personalized.”
This surely will include microbiome-based therapeutics or even personalized dietary guidelines as adjunctive therapies alongside drugs since diet is one of the most significant predictors of the gut microbiome.
Adapted from Leah D. D’Aloisio
Several factors such as lifestyle, age, dietary patterns, antibiotic use, genetics & exercise can influence the gut microbiota. In the past decade, research has shown that bi-directional communication between the gut-brain-axis occurs, which can impact brain function and influence mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression & schizophrenia. While essential for the development of our immune system, the gut microbiota is also involved with various diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, vascular disease, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and allergies.
The more we understand about the gut microbiota, the better therapies we can provide. Future treatments such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation will help a diseased microbiome to improve overall gut health.
"This page is actually awesome, for once. Thank you for talking about this super important factor of our being! Microbiota is something that actually traverses all races of people--everyone should have the right to have a healthy microbiota!" - Chloe McAllinway (From My health, my microbiota)
Flora, microbiota, microbiome: false friends and true synonyms
Scams, (fake) science, and publishing
The older we get, the more unique our gut microbiota. And it is this uniqueness that promises both healthy aging and longer life expectancy among the elderly.1
So what’s the best advice for aging well? Find the answers in this article.
The gut microbiota Diet Have you heard of "dysbiosis"? Parkinson's disease Alzheimer's disease
Memory loss, difficulties with spatial orientation, anxiety disorders... Aging is often associated with psychological and cognitive decline.
Is it inevitable? No, thanks to the gut microbiota which could slow this decline. In fact, one preclinical study2 suggests that the gut-brain axis plays a key role in aging.
The authors believe that these results encourage therapeutic approaches that aim to modulate the gut microbiota to improve cognitive function in the elderly and, consequently, their quality of life. This avenue is being very seriously investigated by scientists who hope to prevent the development of age-associated memory disorders.
Aging is accompanied by general inflammation and the deterioration of many bodily functions, which contribute to the frailty syndrome found in the elderly. Does diet play a part? Very probably.
The (sidenote: Mediterranean diet Rich in fruit, vegetables, cereals, oilseeds (nuts) and fish, and low in red meat, saturated fats and dairy products. Lăcătușu CM, Grigorescu ED, Floria M, et al. The Mediterranean Diet: From an Environment-Driven Food Culture to an Emerging Medical Prescription. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar 15;16(6):942. ) is no longer presented*as: THE benchmark for diets that promote health and well-being. It must be said that it contains a certain number of foods and culinary practices that are particularly beneficial for our bodies and propitious to healthy aging.
In fact, according to a study conducted among the elderly,3 the Mediterranean diet allows the microbiota to remain diversified (a sign of good health) and increases the number of “good” bacteria. These bacteria are associated with improved brain function (especially memory) and decreased inflammation and frailty.
Other beneficial changes obtained by this diet: increased walking speed and better manual strength. Would you like a bit more salad?
Could diet help delay progression of Alzheimer’s disease?
Is there a link between parkinson’s disease and gut microbiota?
Itching, tingling, a runny nose, watery eyes… Every year, the arrival of spring and its high pollen levels indicate that allergic rhinitis is back with a bang. The most common and the most persistent manifestation of respiratory allergy, allergic rhinitis blights the lives of 40% of the global population.1 This particularly complex respiratory disorder results from several genetic and environmental factors, including an imbalance of the gut and ENT microbiota.
Parents, take hope, there are also protective factors.
So how can your child's respiratory allergies be prevented?
The ENT microbiota Allergic rhinitis Asthma and microbiota The gut microbiota Have you heard of "dysbiosis"? Probiotics
The symptoms of rhinitis are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to allergens. Allergic rhinitis is described as seasonal (the notorious “hay fever”) when it is linked to the pollen of grasses, trees or herbaceous plants. It is described as perennial when it is caused by allergens present throughout the year (dust mites, animal hairs, molds).2
40% Allergic rhinitis is thought to affect up to 40% of the global population with a high prevalence
This disease is associated with an imbalance of the ENT microbiota (ear-nose-throat) and of the gut microbiota, also known as “ (sidenote: Dysbiosis Generally defined as an alteration in the composition and function of the microbiota caused by a combination of environmental and individual-specific factors. Levy M, Kolodziejczyk AA, Thaiss CA, et al. Dysbiosis and the immune system. Nat Rev Immunol. 2017;17(4):219-232. ) ”.
Some studies report disparities in the composition of the gut microbiota between people suffering from acute episodes of seasonal allergic rhinitis and non-allergic individuals.3 One study in children4 reveals that the diversity of the nasal microbiota is reduced when they are suffering from rhinitis, with a specific bacterial signature that reflects the respiratory disease and its severity level.
It would seem that exposure to (sidenote: Microorganisms Living organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea and protozoa, and are commonly referred to as “microbes”. What is microbiology? Microbiology Society. ) in early childhood is beneficial for the prevention of allergies. Contrary to received ideas, living in an aseptic environment does not necessarily offer protection.
In fact, some studies report that house dust might protect against allergies.5 Living in the countryside is also thought to be beneficial, thanks to the farming environment that suppposedly shapes the development of the gut microbiota.6 Finally, living with others also has its benefits and may prevent the occurrence of the allergy: researchers have thus observed that in children without siblings attending a kindergarten, there is a significantly reduced risk of allergic rhinitis, compared to children without siblings who are kept at home.7 Faced with allergic rhinitis, hurrah for large families!
This period from conception to 2 years of age is critical for infant growth and development.8 In fact, it is during this time window that colonization of the gut microbiota begins and that the immune system starts to develop and mature.
Antibiotics, delivery method, diet... all these factors that impact and destabilize the gut microbiota can have long-term effects on susceptibility to disease (allergic rhinitis among many others).9
Asthma: breathing in some fresh air on the farm!
Gut microbiota not yet considered “adult” at five years old?
Considered the “second brain”, our gut is constantly talking to our brain and vice versa. This is known as the gut-brain axis. The malfunctioning of this axis could be involved in some neuropsychiatric disorders: anxiety, depression and attention disorders... This is still under review: modulating the gut microbiota through diet or the administration of probiotics could prevent, even treat these conditions.
In addition, some foodstuffs are even supposedly able to trigger a “feel-good effect”.
So what is the link between your gut flora and your mood? Answer below!
The gut microbiota Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Have you heard of "dysbiosis"? Diet
With its 200 million neurons and its billions of gut bacteria, our gut deserves its nickname “second brain”. It is highly active, and contributes to both our physical and mental health.1
Our digestive tract and brain are constantly talking to each other, but communication between the two may be disrupted when our gut microbiota is degraded and an inflammatory process is set up.
200 millions neurons on the gut
1 billion of gut bacteria
The disruption of our gut microbiota, also known as dysbiosis, is allegedly involved in various mental health disorders (depression, anxiety).2 In fact, some studies conducted in humans (albeit only a few) appear to have demonstrated a significant reduction in the richness of the gut flora in patients with mental disorders.3
The gut bacteria talk to our brain by producing molecules called “neurotransmitters”; the most well-known, serotonin and dopamine, regulate our mood.4 According to scientists, these (sidenote: Neurotransmitters Specific molecules that enable communication between the neurons (the nerve cells in the brain), as well as with the bacteria in the microbiota. They are produced by the individual’s cells and by the bacteria in the microbiota. Baj A, Moro E, Bistoletti M, Orlandi V, Crema F, Giaroni C. Glutamatergic Signaling Along The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1482. ) act on the cells in the gut wall. In this way the message reaches the brain via the neurons of the digestive tract.5
Another facilitator of information: (sidenote: Short chain fatty acids (SGFA) Short chain fatty acids are a source of energy (fuel) for an individual’s cells. They interact with the immune system and are implicated in communication between the gut and the brain. Silva YP, Bernardi A, Frozza RL. The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:25. ) (SCFA). These biological substances, some of which are good for our bodies, are produced by the bacteria in our colon during fermentation of dietary fibers. They also play a key role in the connections between the two organs by acting directly on the brain.6
Did you know? Some foods, such as chocolate, can regulate our mood.
A study7 recently showed that the polyphenols found in large quantities in cocoa may have a positive action on the gut flora slowing down the growth of (sidenote: Pathogen A pathogen is a microorganism that causes, or may cause, disease. Pirofski LA, Casadevall A. Q and A: What is a pathogen? A question that begs the point. BMC Biol. 2012 Jan 31;10:6. ) bacteria and encouraging the development of beneficial ones.
It is in particular the consumption of dark chocolate with 85% cocoa solids that supposedly increases the microbial diversity in our gut and sets up a virtuous circle with the brain, resulting in a long-term positive effect on our mood.
Chocolate-lovers, you can finally stop feeling guilty!
In addition to living with inflammatory bowel disease, the thousands of women who suffer from this disease during pregnancy are also at higher risk of preterm delivery and low-birth-weight newborns. Why? One explanation may lie in their vaginal microbiota.
The vaginal microbiota IBD
30% 1 in 3 women are aware that delivery (vaginally or cesarean section) has an impact on the newborn’s gut microbiota
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is frequently diagnosed in women of childbearing age and increases the risk of premature delivery, caesarean section, and low birth weight. While pregnancy in healthy women changes the composition of the vaginal microbiota, there is no evidence that this change occurs in women suffering from IBD. A new study has investigated this important period.
Numerous studies have highlighted the gut microbiota’s role in IBD. The role of the vaginal microbiota, however, is not yet known. Nor is it known whether pregnancy modifies the vaginal microbiota composition of women suffering from IBD, as has been observed in healthy pregnant women, whose vaginal microbiota becomes more stable, less rich and less diversified, and displays a greater abundance of (sidenote: Lactobacilli Rod-shaped bacteria whose main characteristic is the production of lactic acid, from where they get the name “lactic acid bacteria”. Lactobacilli are present in the oral, vaginal and gut microbiota of humans, but also in plants and animals. They are found in fermented foods, such as dairy products (e.g. certain cheeses and yoghurts), pickles, sauerkraut, etc. Lactobacilli are also found in probiotics, with certain species recognized for their beneficial properties. W. H. Holzapfel et B. J. Wood, The Genera of Lactic Acid Bacteria, 2, Springer-Verlag, 1st ed. 1995 (2012), 411 p. « The genus Lactobacillus par W. P. Hammes, R. F. Vogel Tannock GW. A special fondness for lactobacilli. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Jun;70(6):3189-94. Smith TJ, Rigassio-Radler D, Denmark R, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG® and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12® on health-related quality of life in college students affected by upper respiratory infections. Br J Nutr. 2013 Jun;109(11):1999-2007. ) .
To solve this equation, which includes several unknowns, Canadian researchers studied the vaginal microbiota composition of 32 pregnant women suffering from IBD, obtaining samples from them during each trimester. By the end of the study, nearly 44% of the women had delivered at term by cesarean section, while two had delivered prematurely.
The researchers observed that the composition of their vaginal microbiota remained stable throughout pregnancy and was dominated by lactobacilli. However, bacterial species of the class Mollicutes – some of whose species are associated with preterm birth – were identified in 80% of the IBD patients at least once during pregnancy, a rate significantly higher than that observed in 172 healthy pregnant women who delivered at term.
This study provides a first insight into the changes in the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women suffering from IBD. Despite the high prevalence of Mollicutes detected, further work is needed to confirm that these bacteria expose expectant mothers to an increased risk of preterm delivery.
"Interesting" - Carolyne Joan Weckman (From My health, my microbiota)
"Interesting" - Elaine Borkowsky Lampert (From My health, my microbiota)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and microplastics: an explosive cocktail?
Can the gut microbiota be used to better predict responses to IBD treatment?
Cervicitis in some women, but no symptoms in others. Why does gonorrhea manifest itself in so many different ways? The abundance of lactobacilli in the cervico-vaginal microbiota may be the cause.
