Lactobacillus johnsonii tagged posts

Spinal cord injury can reshape gut microbes that influence whole-body health

The spinal cord is a major communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body, including the gut, where trillions of microbes interact with the body’s largest collection of immune cells.
The spinal cord is a major communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body, including the gut, where trillions of microbes interact with the body’s largest collection of immune cells.
Illustration: Getty Images/Science Photo Library

Scientists exploring the links between a spinal cord injury, inflammation and immune function have turned their attention to a genome-level analysis of the gut microbial community, with early study results offering hints at potential new approaches to aid healing.

In mice, refeeding a strain of bacteria that was depleted after spinal cord injury (SCI) lowered inflammation and stabilized weight loss...

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Research shows a few Beneficial Organisms could play key role in treating type 2 -Diabetes

Lactobacillus johnsonii, SEM image by Kathryn Cross, IFR

Researchers at Oregon State University have found that a few organisms in the gut microbiome play a key role in type 2 diabetes, opening the door to possible probiotic treatments for a serious metabolic disease affecting roughly one in 10 Americans.

“Type 2 diabetes is in fact a global pandemic and the number of diagnoses is expected to keep rising over the next decade,” said study co-leader Andrey Morgun, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the OSU College of Pharmacy. “The so-called ‘western diet’ — high in saturated fats and refined sugars — is one of the primary factors. But gut bacteria have an important role to play in modulating the effects of diet.”

Formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, type 2 diabet...

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