Our bodies are more than just humans. There are trillions of microorganisms living in and on our bodies. In fact, there are more microorganisms in our intestines than there actually are. stars of the milky way. These microbes are essential to human health, but scientists still don’t understand what they do or how they help.
In a new study published in natural microbiologyMy colleagues and I investigated how certain gut bacteria can protect us from harmful bacteria, a group known as Enterobacteriaceae.
These bacteria include species such as: Escherichia coli (Escherichia coli). It is usually harmless in small amounts, but in excess it can cause infections and other health problems.
It has been found that the intestinal environment, which is formed by diet and other factors, plays a major role in suppressing potentially harmful bacteria.
To reach this conclusion, we analyzed more than 12,000 stool samples from people in 45 countries. Using DNA sequencing technology, we were able to identify and quantify the microorganisms detected in each sample. We found that the composition of the gut microbiota of people infected with Enterobacteriaceae is fundamentally different from those who are not infected with Enterobacteriaceae.
By analyzing these microorganisms and their genes, we can accurately predict (about 80% of the time) whether or not Enterobacteriaceae is present in someone’s gut. This showed that the type of bacteria in our gut is closely related to whether harmful species take over.
Digging deeper, they found two groups of bacteria: those that coexist with Enterobacteriaceae (so-called “co-colonizers”), and those that are rarely found together (“co-excluders”).
One type of co-excluded bacteria, called Faecalibacterium, stands out as being particularly important. By breaking down the various fibers in our diet, we produce chemicals called short-chain fatty acids. This prevents the growth of harmful bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae.
The presence of these fatty acids was one of the strongest signals observed between co-excluders and co-colonizers. They also previously involved It has a wide range of health benefits, including reducing inflammation and improving bowel function.
Another interesting observation from our study was that co-colonizers (bacteria that coexist with Enterobacteriaceae) are more adaptable. They had diverse abilities to break down different nutrients and were able to survive in environments that were also suitable for Enterobacteriaceae.
This was particularly surprising because previous studies in mice had argued that bacteria that feed on the same types of food and nutrients have difficulty coexisting in the gut.
This once again points to the fact that intestinal environmental conditions (nutrients, pH, oxygen levels) are the main factors determining whether a person’s intestine is colonized by Enterobacteriaceae.
More effective than probiotics
Our findings could lead to new ways to prevent and treat infections without antibiotics. For example, instead of directly killing harmful bacteria (which can also harm good bacteria), we can enhance co-excludable factors or create a diet that supports bacterial growth.
This strategy may be more effective than taking probiotics directly, as it has previously been shown that new bacteria added to the intestinal tract can only live for a limited time in the gut. It can also reduce the bacterial threat by targeting specific pathways that harmful bacteria use to survive.
Although our study provides new and important insights, there is still much to learn. Microbiome research is underrepresented in many regions, including parts of South America and Africa. This limits our understanding of how gut microbiota vary from population to population.
Additionally, although our study reveals important patterns and interactions, we still do not fully understand the causes and mechanisms behind these relationships.
Future research will integrate additional tools such as metabolomics (studying the chemicals produced by microbes) and transcriptomics (studying how genes are activated) to understand how the gut ecosystem interacts with us. We plan to get a clearer picture of how it works for its health benefits.
Additionally, next steps include studies testing whether specific types of diets (e.g., high-fiber vs. low-fiber diets) have long-term effects on the incidence of potentially harmful bacteria and other diseases. should focus on planning.
A deeper understanding of how microbes interact and communicate in our gut will allow us to develop more precise non-antibiotic treatments to prevent infections in the future. .
alexandre almeidaPrincipal Investigator, cambridge university
This article is republished from conversation Under Creative Commons License. please read original article.
