Probiotics: Biofilm Formulation Protects The Intestines and Brain

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a deadly, debilitating disease that affects premature babies, causing inflamed intestinal tissue and even ischemia and necrosis of related tissue in severe cases. Children who manage to live to adulthood can face several lifelong challenges, like neurodevelopmental delays and short-gut syndrome. Oftentimes, NEC treatment involves surgical removal of the dying tissue.

Working to create a novel preventative solution, principal research investigators at Nationwide Children’s Center for Microbial Pathogenesis developed a probiotic system employing the durability of biofilm to improve probiotic administration to neonate patients. Hoping to demonstrate their model’s efficacy in an animal similar to humans, a piglet model of NEC was adapted to the study, providing the same care given to premature infants in terms of the medication and fluids, nasogastric tube feedings, and monitoring done and given. Overall, the data from the piglet model supported those of the initial rodent model, and the findings demonstrated that the Lr’s (Limosilactobacillus reuteri) biofilm protected both the brain and intestines from NEC, preventing the associated morbidity and mortality. 

Considering the severity of a child’s condition after developing NEC, it was interesting to learn about how bacterial biofilms (often having a negative connotation) could be applied to life-saving treatments to protect newborns. By using this piglet model, as well, we can better understand the safety issues associated with this biofilm formulation and provide a better foundation for researching neonatal risk for certain diseases. Potentially, a clinical trial may even be possible in the foreseeable future thanks to this model.

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Click here for the journal article for the study information

Genetic Basis of the Brain-Gut Axis in IBS

From Gene to Gut: IBS and Your Mental Health

    With the upward trend of brain-gut connection research, comes intriguing results. Researchers from the University of Oslo, University of Bergen, and University of California, have found conclusive results about the connection between genetic inheritance of IBS and mental health conditions. The sample size included 53,400 people with IBS and 433,201 control participants while they searched for genomic risk loci, or specific areas of interest in DNA sequences that appeared to correlate with the IBS and mental health conditions. IBS and mental health conditions are polygenic traits as they rely on a heavy influence from various genes, and many of these genes were found to be shared in the sample sizes. There were 70 loci identified in the connection between IBS and mental health conditions, with the results concluding: 7 associated with GAD, 35 with depression, 15 with schizophrenia, and 27 with BPD. Now, new connections and pathways between the brain and gut can be better examined and enhance our understanding of these conditions.

    This was a great article to read, and also put many things into perspective. Many clinicians neglect the fact that a physical medical condition can have an impact on your mental health, and I believe this data directly proves there is a definite connection between the two. Furthermore, IBS is often used to describe food sensitivity to FODMAPS, and most people with IBS are instructed to follow a low FODMAP diet; however, this alludes to the fact that maybe IBS shouldn't be classified as a food-sensitivity related disorder, but rather that of a mental health condition because stress and anxiety factors can trigger the same symptoms. In my opinion, this is a classical case of medicine placing an umbrella term for a condition that can have many different causes, but are neglected to be looked into any further. I feel strongly about this topic, and hope to change the narrative when I enter the medical field.

Links for further research:

1) https://www.sciencealert.com/many-of-the-genes-behind-ibs-could-also-affect-our-mental-health 

2) https://medicine.missouri.edu/news/irritable-bowel-syndrome-patients-suffer-high-rates-anxiety-and-depression

Crohn's genes make cells deaf to messages from beneficial gut bacteria

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract.  Crohn's mainly affects the ileum of bowel and the start of the colon.  In addition, Crohn's disease can impact any part of the gastrointestinal tract.  An individual with Crohn's disease typically suffers an enlarged intestinal tract.  Currently, Crohn's disease is thought to be a genetic disease that is affected by environmental factors like stress and diet.  It tends to affect people with European backgrounds.

Recent studies suggest that beneficial bacteria might have no effect in patients with Crohn's.  Defective genes block microbial messages to immune cells that would normally prohibit damage to the intestinal tract.  Patients with Crohn's disease actually experience an increased immune response, causing chronic inflammation.  The inflammation is linked to approximately 200 genes, including ATG16L1 and NOD2.  Mice with these defective genes are unable to effectively utilize good bacteria to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation.  Luckily, some genes are responsible for killing bad bacteria also work to suppress the immune system when necessary.  So, this prevents Crohn's disease from going out of control.

Crohn's disease is clearly a detrimental disease, but research does offer some silver linings.  If there are genes that can suppress the immune system efficiently, it seems as though there are potential ways to reduce Crohn's effects.  It is also possible that the same genes could be used for other gastrointestinal diseases like ulcers.