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How your brain listens to your Microbes: the gut-brain axis
60 second summary Communication between out gut microbes and brain is via the brain gut axis Microbes can send messages to our brain via many pathways such as: hormones, immunity signalling molecules and their own metabolites A barrier of cells separating the microorganisms from the bloodstream means that signals are conveyed indirectly What is the… Read more
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The gut- brain axis on weight loss: could removal of the vagus nerve solve the obesity epidemic?
What is the vagus nerve? Out of all 12 nerves which arise from the brain, the longest is the 10th also known as the vagus nerve. It is the most complex nerve of the body’s autonomic nervous system, which is the system controlling non voluntary functions such as heart rate and digestion. These are actions… Read more
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Can a vaccination with microbes cure depression?
60 second summary Inflammation is present in all mental health conditions Increased cases of inflammation are thought to be because of decreased exposure of our immune system to microbes ~ the hygiene hypothesis Mycobacterium vaccae is known to regulated metabolism of molecules associated with mood so could be administered as a therapeutic drug for mood… Read more
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The epithelial barrier: The single cell thick boundary between you and your microbes
60 second summary Our gut microbes reside inside the opening of our intestines and a top layer of mucus They are separated from our gut cells by a protective bottom layer of mucus Immune cells can travel through the layers sampling for disease causing bacteria A healthy gut is abundant in microbes called probiotics. Probiotics-… Read more
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Looking for a drug tailored to your DNA? Think precision medicine
60 second summary The microbiome is sequenced by looking for variations in the same gene of different bacterial cells Every disease has a different effect on the bacterial population inside the body By screening and sequencing microbial communities diseases may be treated earlier and more thoroughly with personalised treatment Are the treatments for diseases we… Read more
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