If you’ve ever met a set of identical twins, your initial impressions are likely about their similarities. Their height, facial features, and sometimes their mannerisms look like a reflection of the other. Visual similarities in identical twins can be traced back to genetics. When two people share the exact same set of DNA, their genes encode the same physical characteristics. But take a closer look, and you might notice that twins are not exactly the same. For example, their weight and skin texture may be different. One might develop a disease like cancer that the other never will. This discrepancy can be explained by environmental factors. Environment plays a huge role in shaping a person’s life. It can even affect how somebody’s genes work without ever changing their DNA (Peixoto et. al 2020). The study of the environment’s effect on genes is called epigenetics. Epigenetic changes can be passed down from parent to child (Geraghty et. al 2016).
Continue reading “Guts, Genes, and Generations: Exploring Stress in the Microbiome”Could Your Baby Benefit From Synbiotic Formula?
Image: example of mother bottle feeding infant (captured by Anna Stills)
Background
The first few months of an infant’s life are very important for the development of the gut microbiota, which shapes immune responses, metabolic function, and overall health. The gut microbiota is a complex community of tiny microbes that inhabit your digestive system, namely the large intestine. Early colonization of the gut can change based on factors like how a baby was born (vaginal vs cesarean section), what they eat (breastfeeding vs formula) and healthcare treatments (antibiotic use). Disruptions to this delicate balance during infancy can have long-term consequences like increasing the risk for certain conditions like allergies, obesity and gastrointestinal disorders later in life (Lagouvardos, 2022, p.334).
Given the deep connection between the gut microbiota and health, scientists are looking into how different decisions during infancy can shape these microbial communities. One of these decisions is the use of synbiotics. Synbiotics are a combination of probiotics (live beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics ( food for bacteria). Synbiotic formulas, which blend probiotcs and prebiotics, are made to copy the benefits of breastfeeding and support the development of a healthy gut microbiome in infants who are not breastfed. Synbiotic formulas are common but are, not surprisingly, more expensive than their non-synbiotic formula counterparts.
Continue reading “Could Your Baby Benefit From Synbiotic Formula?”The Future of Microbes Could be In Hunter-Gatherer Tribes
Background:
The industrialization of the food industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. The average western consumer now consumes more ultra-processed food than ever before, shifting away from more seasonal and traditional diets. This change is being fueled by the advancement in marketing techniques, which shows over 50 percent of all food and beverage advertisements are processed foods (Zhang et al. 2022), and making ultra-processed food more readily available and appealing. However, this convenience comes at a cost: rising rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are at an all time high in Western populations (Rakhra et al. 2020).
The relationship between diet, health, and our microbiome is becoming increasingly clear as more studies are conducted. Diets that are high in unhealthy fats and sugars lead the gut microbial population to decrease (Townsend et al. 2018), which can reduce the overall health of the host. An unhealthy microbiome could lead to inflammation, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer (Zhang et al. 2015). However, most of the research and understanding of the gut microbiomes focuses on western industrialized populations. This leaves significant gaps of knowledge for those populations who are in non industrialized regions, and possibly leaves a wealth of microbes undiscovered.
Continue reading “The Future of Microbes Could be In Hunter-Gatherer Tribes “The Friends (or Enemies) That Live on Our Skin
Introduction:
Acne vulgaris, more commonly known as acne, is a disease that mostly everyone deals with at some point in their life, most likely in their adolescent years, and can lead to self-esteem issues and negative impacts on mental health (Lee, et. al., 2019). Of course, there are some people who maybe get the occasional pimple, but generally do not have acne-prone skin and to them, people might say they are blessed with good genetics. But is genetics really the outstanding cause of whether you have acne or not? Microbiologists would suggest it is the microbes inhabiting our skin, which are microscopic sized organisms. The skin microbiome, or collection of microbes living on and in your skin, is diverse and can contribute to a number of skin conditions, acne being one of them. There is one specific microbe known to inhabit the skin quite pervasively and progress acne: Propionibacterium acnes. This microbe is able to survive without oxygen within a layer beneath your skin and deep within the hair follicles of the skin.
A study done by Jacob Hall and colleagues in 2018 offers a comparative analysis of the three methods best suited for sampling the skin to determine the presence of microbes. The use of pore strips is one method used in this study, but it is stated that previous studies have emphasized concern they do not reach deep enough to obtain an accurate analysis (Fitz-Gibbon, et al., 2013). Another method used was swabbing the skin surface with a cotton swab, which only obtains information from the surface of the skin and not internal layers, where we know P. acnes to be most abundant. The third method used was cyanoacrylate glue which was able to obtain 50% deeper into the hair follicle than the pore strips were able to. The two methods of data analysis used in this study were 16S rRNA sequencing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). 16S rRNA sequencing offers microbial identification by amplifying a highly conserved region within all bacteria, while WGS takes the entire DNA sequence and matches the parts of DNA to sequences that are available on public databases to determine which taxa are present.
Continue reading “The Friends (or Enemies) That Live on Our Skin”New study shows probiotics may help treat colon cancer
Background
Recently there has been a trend in increasing health and a significant portion of this has been tied to gut health. When it comes to gut health the gut microbiome is typically one of the first topics brought up; along with this comes the topic of maintaining and improving the bacteria in our gut. This is done in two fashions: diets and supplements. Within supplements, the ever more popular probiotics play an extremely important role in our gut health. Not only are probiotics beneficial in aiding digestion and other dietary benefits, but a recent study has shown that they may even suppress the formation of tumors, reduce colon inflammation, and cause the death of tumor cells related to colorectal cancer (CRC) (Zhou et al, 2024).
Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer worldwide and it is occurring at an increasing rate, therefore it is of great importance that we continue to research the disease and find treatment options that may increase the outcomes for patients diagnosed with the disease (Patel et al, 2022). It is known that CRC patients may have altered gut microbiomes and that it may play a role in some of the symptoms of the disease as well as its progression (Cheng et al, 2020)(Yu et al, 2023). It’s also known that some probiotics can help restore a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut but can also reduce some of the harmful molecules that are produced by CRC (Amara et al, 2015)(Bender et al , 2023).
Chlorhexidine; How Much Infection Control is too much Infection Control?
Jasmine Deans
Background:
Microbiomes are all around us, in your gut, on your hands, in your ear, and especially in your mouth. The oral microbiome is one of the most interesting subjects to study because of the complex environment in your mouth. It’s wet, warm, and depending on the person can have a high or low pH. Many factors come into play when it comes to the health of your oral microbiome. One of those factors is chlorhexidine (CHX), an antiseptic mouthwash that has been around since the 1970s. Dentists regularly use chlorhexidine, so how does this affect our microbiome?
Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic agent that is used because of its long-lasting antibacterial effects and the large spectrum of action. It’s used by dentists because there have been studies that have shown its effectiveness in the clinical management of plaque, gingival inflammation, and bleeding (Amoian et al., 2017). Other studies show that it helps reduce the proliferation of some bacterial species associated with periodontal disease as well as reducing levels of bacteria that colonize the top surface of the tongue (Bescos et al., 2020).
Continue reading “Chlorhexidine; How Much Infection Control is too much Infection Control?”Fibromyalgia: a Mystery Disease?
What is Fibromyalgia and who does it affect?
Could you imagine waking up every day with pain that never goes away? That is the reality many fibromyalgia sufferers experience in their everyday lives. Fibromyalgia is from the Latin word fiber (fiber) and the Greek words myo (muscle) and algos (pain). These root words offer a glimpse into what fibromyalgia is and how it causes suffering. It is a pain of the fibrous tissues and muscle in the human body. While anyone of any background regardless of race or ethnicity can get fibromyalgia, it typically affects women more than men (NIH, 2024). You are more likely to develop fibromyalgia as you age, and if a family member has fibromyalgia. There are cases of children and young adults having fibromyalgia, but it usually occurs in middle-aged women (Erdrich et al., 2023).
Around 2 to 4% of adults live with the challenges of fibromyalgia (Stewart, 2022). They wake up, feeling exhausted, struggling to get through daily tasks, and facing unpredictable flare-ups. This chronic condition, along with many other symptoms mentioned can affect your mental health, sleep and cognitive issues like brain fog, chronic headaches, and memory impairment. In addition, It can also make you more at risk for depression and anxiety by more than 50% (Freirich et al., 2021). Figure 1(A) displays many of the possible or common symptoms that sufferers of fibromyalgia have. The National Institute of Health has a great page about fibromyalgia, including its symptoms, causes and an overview.
Continue reading “Fibromyalgia: a Mystery Disease?”How the Facial Microbiome Changes as we Age
Background
The human microbiome refers to all the microorganisms that live on and inside us. These microorganisms are predominantly bacteria and can consist of both beneficial and harmful species that change throughout our lives due to different factors. Our facial skin is home to millions of these microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses; that influence the health of our skin (Byrd, A., Belkaid, Y. & Segre, J, 2018). These include the bacteria that peacefully coexist on our skin, as well as potentially harmful and dangerous invader bacteria (Scharschmidt TC, Fischbach MA, 2013). These facial microbes function in maintaining the physical barrier of our skin, protection against pathogens, working with the immune response, and the breakdown of natural products (Byrd, A., Belkaid, Y. & Segre, J, 2018).
Aging is a factor that influences the composition and function of the facial microbiome and is unavoidable for all humans. As we get older, our facial skin experiences a decrease in collagen, sebaceous/oil glands, and sweat, which can impact and influence the facial microbiome (Sun, C. et al. 2024). Skin aging is associated with physical changes such as wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and the appearance of rough texture (Kim, HJ. et al., 2022). It has been found that elderly individuals exhibit significantly higher microbiome diversity linked to reduced immune capabilities that are not as effective at eliminating certain bacteria and microbes (Jensen, J. M., & Proksch, E., 2009).
Continue reading “How the Facial Microbiome Changes as we Age”From Your Gut to Your Heart: The Surprising Role of Exercise in Cardiac Recovery
Background:
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health by interacting with host metabolism, immune function, and disease states. The diverse microbial communities within our gut not only contribute to digestion and nutrient absorption but also produce various metabolites (small molecules created when the body breaks down food and other substances) that influence overall health of the body. Who knew that a heart-healthy life might start with some gutsy friends in our microbiome? As exercise continues to grow in popularity as part of a healthy lifestyle, interest is also growing in understanding how it affects health beyond fitness.
Recent studies have examined how exercise impacts the gut microbiome (Lambert et al., 2015; Motiani et al., 2020) as well as how these microbiome changes may influence cardiovascular health, showing that exercise can modify gut microbiota composition and potentially offer protective effects against cardiovascular conditions (Longoria et al., 2022; Zhou et al., 2022). Understanding the mechanisms behind these relationships could lead to new therapeutic approaches aimed at treating cardiovascular health complications.
Continue reading “From Your Gut to Your Heart: The Surprising Role of Exercise in Cardiac Recovery”Heart Health in Your Gut: How the Microbiome Affects Cardiovascular Disease
When we think about heart health, the gut probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, new research is shedding light on how the trillions of microorganisms living in our digestive tract—collectively known as the gut microbiome—may play a surprising role in cardiovascular disease (Zhang, Y. et al., 2022).
Cardiovascular Disease: The World’s Deadliest Threat
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and high blood pressure. These conditions are the leading cause of death worldwide, with heart attack and stroke being responsible for 85% of these deaths (World Health Organization, 2021). While many factors contribute to CVD, including diet, lifestyle, and genetics, scientists are discovering that the composition of our gut microbiome might also be a key player (Zhang, Y. et al., 2022).
Continue reading “Heart Health in Your Gut: How the Microbiome Affects Cardiovascular Disease”