Disease-specific loss of microbial cross-feeding interactions in the human gut

Many gut microorganisms critical to human health rely on nutrients produced by each other for survival; however, these cross-feeding interactions are still challenging to quantify and remain poorly characterized.   Abstract Here, we introduce a Metabolite Exchange Score (MES) to quantify those interactions. Using metabolic models of prokaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes from over 1600 individuals, MES…

Upper small intestine microbiome in obesity and related metabolic disorders: A new field of investigation

Highlights Upper small intestine (USI) microbiome is crucial in nutrient absorption and digestion. High-fat diet greatly impacts USI microbiome diversity and composition in rodents. Bariatric surgery and inulin aid in the recovery of USI microbiome in HFD-fed mice Metagenomic richness of USI microbiome inversely correlates with insulin resistance. USI microbiome research in obesity is still…

THE HUMAN MICROBIOME: 2023 PRINCESS OF ASTURIAS AWARD FOR TECHNICAL & SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

JEFFREY GORDON, E. PETER GREENBERG AND BONNIE L. BASSLER 2023 PRINCESS OF ASTURIAS AWARD FOR TECHNICAL & SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Jeffrey Gordon has spearheaded the study of the human microbiome, the set of microorganisms that inhabit our intestines (tens of trillions: several times more than the total number of our own cells), and their influence on…

Scientists discover evidence that being a vegetarian may be written in your genes

Researchers identified genes in vegetarians that may explain why they choose plant-based diets after screening 330,00 genomes.   Vegetarianism has been practiced for millennia in different societies and cultures, but today only a small minority of people forgo eating meat.   People turn to a meatless diet for ethical reasons, such as animal well-being or…