gut

A study from Spain reveals that Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure impacts the gut microbiome of children differently, with normal-weight children showing greater bacterial diversity compared to those who are overweight or obese. This research underscores the importance of understanding BPA’s role in childhood obesity and the potential for future health interventions.Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical, is extensively utilized in creating long-lasting plastic items such as glasses, water bottles, and epoxy resins. However, it…

Research using fruit flies has revealed activin signaling as a key mechanism in gut plasticity, influencing its ability to shrink and expand in response to nutrient availability. This finding has implications for understanding organ adaptation and opens new pathways for exploring treatments for colorectal cancer linked to activin signaling disruptions.One of the most striking examples of gut plasticity can be observed in animals that are exposed to prolonged periods of fasting, such as hibernating animals or phyton snakes…

Researchers have made progress against citrus greening disease by developing hybrid citrus trees that produce desirable orange-like fruit and resist the disease. Through genetic analysis, they’ve created tools for early flavor profile screening, marking a significant step in ensuring future hybrids combine disease tolerance with the essential sweet orange flavor.Antibiotic-resistant infection is projected to catch up to cancer as the leading cause of death by 2050, making understanding and limiting the spread of…

February 29, 20244min readHelpful Gut Bacteria Seem to Reduce Allergic Disease in KidsIn babies, the right combo of gut bacteria might stave off later allergies, so scientists are testing “cocktails” of helpful microbes as therapyBy Lydia Denworth I stopped sending peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school with my kids around 2007. That was roughly the moment when people started talking about a dramatic rise in the number of children with serious nut allergies. Cases of all kinds of allergies in youngsters have…

According to a new mouse study, gut bacteria may cause vision loss in certain eye diseases, which could potentially be treated with antibiotics.Researchers from China and the UK discovered bacteria from the gut in damaged areas of the eyes of mice with mutations in the Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene, a major cause of inherited eye diseases."We found an unexpected link between the gut and the eye, which might be the cause of blindness in some patients," says ophthalmologist Richard Lee from University College London, a…

Photo: Kevin Winter (Getty Images)Nick Offerman already picked up an Emmy for his guest-starring role on HBO’s The Last of Us—and considering how acclaimed his turn in “Long, Long Time” has been since the episode aired, it’s no surprise he also won an Independent Spirit Award, this time for supporting performance. Andrew Callaghan Talks 'This Place Rules' In the episode, Offerman’s character, Bill, is expanded from his role in the hit video game; “Long, Long Time” gave the cynical survivalist an endearing romantic…

The Supreme Court could soon gut the ability of federal agencies to limit the pollution that creates smog and causes climate change.This year, SCOTUS will weigh in on a pair of cases that could overturn or severely limit a foundational principal called Chevron deference. For decades, thanks to the Chevron doctrine, judges have deferred to experts at federal agencies on how to implement a law when there are disputes over interpreting language in legislation. Overturning that precedent would weaken the ability of the…

For over a century, people have dreamed of the day when humanity (as a species) would venture into space.In recent decades, that dream has moved much closer to realization, thanks to the rise of the commercial space industry (NewSpace), renewed interest in space exploration, and long-term plans to establish habitats in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), on the lunar surface, and Mars.Based on the progression, it is clear that going to space exploration will not be reserved for astronauts and government space agencies for much…

February 16, 20243min readRod-shaped fragments of RNA called “obelisks” were discovered in gut and mouth bacteria for the first timeBy Joanna Thompson For the first time, scientists have spotted rogue bits of RNA colonizing the bacteria in our gut. These “obelisks,” as the researchers have dubbed them, may represent a whole new class of infectious agent.“It’s just super thrilling,” says Kathleen Hefferon, a microbiologist at Cornell University who was not involved in the research. The study is available on the preprint…

Research from Georgia State University shows that gut bacteria, particularly segmented filamentous bacteria, play a crucial role in protecting mice against respiratory viruses by influencing immune cells in the lungs. This study could have profound implications for understanding and managing respiratory infections in humans.Researchers at the Center for Translational Antiviral Research within the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University have discovered that the makeup of gut microbiota affects mice’s…