Gut bacteria may be able to evolve over time to live outside of the intestine, a new study finds – and that might make them more dangerous, possibly bringing chronic inflammation and related health risks to other organs in the body.
In an attempt to solve the mystery, Palm and his colleagues introduced the potentially pathogenic bacterium– a species found in around 6 percent of gut microbiomes in humans – into germ-free mice with no gut microbes of their own.
Researchers then monitored the mice for three months. Researchers observed the bacteria evolving into two distinct types. One was similar to the original strain, while another featured small DNA mutations so it could live in the intestine's mucosal lining – and survive in the lymph nodes and liver after escaping the intestine. More worrying, the mutated bacteria can apparently remain hidden in organs and escape the attention of the immune system. In the experiments on mice, the presence of mutant microbes could lead to inflammatory responses, including those linked to autoimmune diseases . "We believe that this evolutionary process starts over in each new host due to the preferential transmission of non-pathogenic strains between individuals,"In other words, within a human host, a niche may open up within the intestines as some non-harmful strains move on to other people, giving other bacteria in the gut room to evolve. This phenomenon is known as 'within-host evolution' and is a possible explanation for why bacterial species living in our intestines can adapt over time, the scientists say. Environmental factors, includingThe more diverse a bacterial community in the gut, the less space any one species has to grow, reducing the chances of unhealthy variants – those that can potentially escape – developing. Anything that affects that diversity, such as diet, could then help explain the risk of inflammatory conditions that sometimes have 'leaky gut' as a symptom,All of this means that if we can understand more about this bacterial evolution, we might be able to develop and introduce preventative therapies for these health problems – perhaps by targeting specific microbes before they can escape.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Universe Could 'bounce' For Eternity. But It Still Had to Start SomewhereFrom the smallest bacterium to the greatest galaxy, death looms on the horizon; even if, in cosmic terms, the time scales are too large for us to truly comprehend.
Read more »
Dwight and Pam’s Friendship Is One of the Best Parts of ‘The Office’Dwight's evolving friendship with Pam on TheOffice led to one of the best bonds on the show.
Read more »
Good Samaritans help return dogs after being stolen in River NorthAn unknown suspect drove off in the dog owner's SUV in with the two dogs inside.
Read more »
Former Longhorn, NFL safety Earl Thomas’ Texas house burnsThe Texas home of former UT Austin standout and NFL safety Earl Thomas burned on Thursday, and officials suspect lightning sparked the blaze.
Read more »
The big gut check in Pennsylvania
Read more »
Kate Middleton’s Favorite Watermelon Salad Recipe | Well+GoodKate Middleton’s favorite eight-ingredient, hydrating watermelon salad recipe is the perfect gut-healthy dish during a heatwave.
Read more »