The National Microbiome Initiative: A lucky day for all

The National Microbiome Initiative: A lucky day for all

Friday the 13th, 2016 was a lucky day for the field of microbiome science, human and environmental health. The National Microbiome Initiative (NMI) launched with more than $121 million being invested from U.S. Federal agencies into microbiome research. We are realizing that microbial ecology really runs our world and lives. So the NMI seeks to understand how microorganisms interact with other species and the environment to protect and restore healthy microbiomes.

Thumb-sucking and Nail-biting Reduce Common Allergies?

Thumb-sucking and Nail-biting Reduce Common Allergies?

Thumb sucking and nail-biting early in life may reduce allergies later in life. Linus’ thumb-sucking habit just might reduce his risk of common allergies. An article in Pediatrics found that kids who had their fingers in their mouths at ages 5, 7, 9, and 11 years old were less likely to have a reaction to a skin prick test for allergies later in life (ages 13 and 32 years) [1]. Study participants were pricked with common allergens including: house dust mites, grass, cat, dog, horse, wool, and several fungi at ages 13 and 32.

Book review: The Hidden Half of Nature

Book review: The Hidden Half of Nature

Our Little Hidden Helpers What do the human gut and plant roots have in common? Interactions with helpful microorganisms. How do both influence human health? Interactions with helpful microorganisms. In The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé weave a fascinating story of their journey understanding the importance of microbes in agricultural and human health. Hidden Half weaves together stories of science and society, data and personalities to explore how manufactured diets – whether chemical fertilizers for agriculture or high-fat, high-sugar, low fiber diets for people – have damaged our health.The authors use excellent examples and analogies to deliver the science to a general audience. 

“Seeding” a C-section Newborn with Vaginal Microbes: Can we? Should we?

“Seeding” a C-section Newborn with Vaginal Microbes: Can we? Should we?

New research is out today from the laboratory of Dr. Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello demonstrating that at least part of mom’s vaginal microbiome can be transmitted to her c-section delivered infant. Infants born via c-section are at increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as asthma, diabetes, immune system disorders, and obesity. C-section babies frequently have a microbiome that is more similar to skin bacteria than mom’s vagina or GI tract. Swabbing a baby at birth with mom’s vaginal fluids is a potentially low cost, easy way to mimic one aspect of vaginal birth and transmit potentially beneficial microbes. Parents considering this procedure should check for the presence of pathogens such as Group B Strep and viral pathogens. Any such procedure should be discussed with your medical care team. For the full post – go to the post at Science and Sensibility’s website. Vaginal Seeding Procedure Illustration by Cara Gibson, Phd

Missing Microbes and Increased Antibiotic Resistance

Missing Microbes and Increased Antibiotic Resistance

Dr. Martin Blaser’s book Missing Microbes details his observations and hypotheses on how overuse and misuse of antibiotics may be the source of modern non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, and obesity. The maps of the U.S. colored with obesity and antibiotic prescriptions fit extremely well – and centered on my Southern homeland. Could it be that the obesity epidemic, diabetes, allergies, asthma, and other non-communicable diseases that are centered over the American South are not due to our preference for all things fried or sopped in butter and washed down with a swig of sweet tea? It’s not just due to sitting in front of screens too much. Certainly poor diet and little exercise don’t help. But could an over-use of antibiotics also be to blame?  That was the hypothesis. Obesity Caused by Over Use of Antibiotics? Dr. Martin Blaser from NYU’s experimental research on mice demonstrated drastic changes in the different types of gut bacteria present before and after antibiotic use. More strikingly, when the antibiotic use was discontinued and the bacterial populations rebounded, the bacterial types that did come back were different metabolically. Antibiotics drastically effected the gut microbiome. Does antibiotic somehow set us on a path