Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Baylor scientist earns NIH grant for personalized microbiome treatments

Baylor University researcher Aaron Wright, Ph.D., has earned a $5.6 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Transformative Research Award for a project that he and collaborators hope could lead to personalized – and revolutionary – treatments for gut microbiome diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis and more.

9 Oct 2024

Researchers uncover key bacteria driving success of fecal microbiota transplants

Fecal microbiota transplants, or FMTs, are a magic bullet for patients with recurring infections from Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), but researchers are only beginning to understand why.

9 Oct 2024

Exploring the role of gut microbes in the aging process

Aging is a universal and complex process affecting all organisms, characterized by several genetic hallmarks such as telomere attrition, genomic instability, and epigenetic changes.

9 Oct 2024

Collaborative efforts essential for tackling dementia in Africa

Dementia is becoming a major public health issue in Africa as its population ages.

9 Oct 2024

High-fiber diets transform gut microbiome, improving health across multiple diseases

Researchers identified two competing guilds of gut bacteria, one beneficial and one harmful, which can predict health outcomes and treatment success in diseases like type 2 diabetes.

8 Oct 2024

Modified bloodroot compound shows promise against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

A modified compound taken from bloodroot, a wildflower native to North America, effectively fights multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in the test tube, according to a new study.

8 Oct 2024

Deciphering the Mysteries of the Human Microbiome

The Microsetta Initiative studies human microbiomes, analyzing diverse data to reveal links between microbes, diet, and health for improved public health.

8 Oct 2024

Early bedtime boosts children's gut health by increasing beneficial bacteria

Study reveals that children who go to bed early have a more diverse and healthier gut microbiome compared to late sleepers, suggesting a link between sleep habits and gut health. It also highlights key metabolic pathways that differ between early and late sleepers.

8 Oct 2024

Doxycycline increases antimicrobial resistance in the gut without disrupting microbiome diversity

Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis increases tetracycline resistance genes in the gut, without significantly affecting microbiome diversity in men who have sex with men and transgender women.

7 Oct 2024

Single-cell genomics unveils secrets of the human microbiome

The human microbiome plays a critical role in our health, influencing everything from disease development to treatment responses.

7 Oct 2024

New deep-learning framework identifies non-addictive pain relief options

An estimated one in five Americans live with chronic pain and current treatment options leave much to be desired.

7 Oct 2024

How carnitine transporters boost reproductive health

Research uncovers the critical role of carnitine transporters in maintaining fertility by regulating energy metabolism and protecting reproductive cells from oxidative stress. It suggests new pathways for treating infertility through carnitine supplementation and targeted therapies.

6 Oct 2024

New framework established for defining prebiotics

The concept of prebiotics – defined as substrates that are selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit – was introduced in the scientific community nearly 30 years ago.

4 Oct 2024

Study highlights benefits and risks of doxy-PEP for STI prevention

Taking a dose of the oral antibiotic doxycycline after a high-risk sexual encounter has dramatically reduced the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in places where the strategy is being tried.

4 Oct 2024

Dietary zinc may reduce plasmid transfer in gut microbes

Genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can spread from microbe to microbe through circular genetic material called plasmids, and this lateral transfer occurs in the gut.

3 Oct 2024

Novel semi-synthetic compound shows promise against drug-resistant tuberculosis

A new study published in the American Society for Microbiology journal Microbiology Spectrum demonstrates that a novel semi-synthetic compound can be derived from natural compounds to produce potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including multi-drug resistant strains.

3 Oct 2024