Microbiome News and Research

Latest Microbiome News and Research

Milk boosts gut-friendly bacteria while cheese alters microbiome balance, study reveals

Researchers found that dairy consumption influences gut microbiota composition, with milk promoting beneficial bacteria and cheese altering microbial diversity in distinct ways.

18 Feb 2025

Fungal component may protect against flu-related lung damage

A component found in all fungi may provide a shield against flu-related lung damage, according to a new study.

18 Feb 2025

Do probiotics enhance sports performance?

Researchers found that probiotics may enhance endurance, recovery, and immune function in athletes, but the evidence for strength and power performance remains limited.

17 Feb 2025

Vaping and gum health: How does it compare to smoking?

A systematic review found that e-cigarette users show increased plaque and inflammation markers compared to non-smokers, though their gum health fares better than traditional smokers. However, the certainty of these findings is low due to study bias.

16 Feb 2025

Infants with cystic fibrosis show stunted gut microbiome development

Findings from a new Dartmouth-led study, published in the journal mBio, highlight key differences in the gut microbiome (communities of bacteria) of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to that of healthy infants, and how these alterations may adversely affect their health.

14 Feb 2025

Study highlights the need for more diversity in vaginal microbiome research

This study emphasizes the need for global equity in vaginal microbiome research, addressing health disparities and improving female health strategies worldwide.

14 Feb 2025

Could yogurt help prevent certain colorectal cancers? New study explores the link

Regular yogurt intake may lower the risk of Bifidobacterium-positive colorectal cancer, particularly in the proximal colon, but does not reduce the risk of Bifidobacterium-negative tumors. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand yogurt’s role in gut health and cancer prevention.

13 Feb 2025

How immune cells and neurons secretly shape brain health, behavior, and disease

Scientists explore how the immune and nervous systems constantly communicate, influencing brain diseases, behavior, and repair while shaping responses to environmental factors like sleep, diet, and pollution.

13 Feb 2025

Gut bacteria could one day serve as microscopic in-house pharmacists

Hundreds of different species of microbes live, laugh, and love in your gut. In the future, one of these might serve a new function: microscopic in-house pharmacist.

13 Feb 2025

Oral vancomycin induces PSC-IBD remission, driving gut microbiome and metabolic shifts

Findings indicate oral vancomycin induces remission in PSC-IBD, with notable microbiota changes and inflammation reduction, reversing after treatment ends.

13 Feb 2025

Long-term yogurt intake linked to reduced risk of colorectal cancer

Yogurt, which contains live strains of bacteria, is thought to protect against many types of diseases, with some reports indicating it could reduce risk of colorectal cancer.

12 Feb 2025

New discovery could overcome immune therapy failure in ovarian cancer

University of Virginia Cancer Center researchers have explained the failure of immune checkpoint therapy for ovarian cancer by discovering how gut bacteria interfere with the treatment.

12 Feb 2025

Gut microbiota key to predicting sensitivity to common food additives

Widely used by the food industry, emulsifiers – a type of food additive – are found in many daily foods (sliced bread, ice creams, crème fraîche, plant milks, etc.).

11 Feb 2025

Global study reveals diversity in healthy vaginal microbiomes

Seeking to understand what constitutes a healthy vaginal microbiome, a global research collaboration that includes a Rutgers-New Brunswick scientist has reported a series of findings, including identifying which bacteria thwart vaginal disease and determining that microbiomes vary significantly across human populations.

11 Feb 2025

Study shows a clear causal relationship between gut microbiota and vagal nerve activity

A new study in an animal model provides direct evidence for the role of the vagus nerve in gut microbiome-brain communication, addressing a critical gap in the field.

11 Feb 2025

Gut microbes influence how well cancer patients respond to immunotherapy

Researchers discovered that gut microbiota-derived hexa-acylated LPS enhances the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapy, while penta-acylated LPS may suppress immune responses.

11 Feb 2025

Broccoli sprouts may help prediabetes, but only with the right gut bacteria

Broccoli sprout extract (BSE) modestly lowered fasting blood glucose in prediabetes, but its effectiveness depended on gut microbiota, particularly the BT2160 operon.

11 Feb 2025

Study explores microbiome reboot to prolong effect of Crohn's disease therapy

A special liquid diet, known as exclusive enteral nutrition, is an essential therapy for Crohn's disease. Patients consume only this formula for six to eight weeks, completely avoiding solid foods. However, the exact reasons why this is helpful were previously unclear.

11 Feb 2025

Your gut bacteria shape your health from childhood to old age, study reveals

Researchers found that gut microbiome composition is strongly linked to metabolic health across different life stages, with greater effects seen in older adults.

10 Feb 2025