Gut Microbiome

Question 1

What is the gut microbiome and what is its biological function?

Answer 1

-Complex microbial community, hundreds of species
-Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, archaea, viruses
-Immune functions, nutrient acquisition, resistence to infections

Question 2

What is the relationship called that we have with our gut microbiota?

Answer 2

A symbiotic relationship

Question 3

What environmental factors are there that are known to disrupt the gut microbiome and associate w higher incidence of chronic disease?

Answer 3

-C sections
-Formula feeding
-Early life antibiotics
-Low fibre diet

Question 4

What does dysbiosis mean?

Answer 4

An imbalance between types of organisms present in a persons natural microflora especially that of the gut, thought to contribute to a range of conditions of ill health

Question 5

What does MWAS stand for and what does it link between?

Answer 5

Metagenome Wide Association Studies - established links between the fecal microbiota and human disease

Question 6

What increases and decreases were there in the bacteria in a case controlled study of Atopic Wheeze?

Answer 6

Increase in streptococcus sp. and bacteroides sp.
Decrease in ruminococcus gnavus and bifidobacterium sp.

Question 7

What fungi was doubled in the vase controlled study of Atopic Wheeze?

Answer 7

Pichia kudriavzevii

Question 8

What happened when mice were transferred into germ free conditions w regards to spontaneous relapsing-remitting EAE resembling Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 8

-When transferred into a germ-free condition, these mice were completely protected of spontaneous EAE.

Question 9

What modern changes to diet have caused a disruption of mutualistic relationship of humans w microbiota?

Answer 9

-Low levels of dietary fiber
-Formula feeding
-High amounts of simple sugars and saturated fats

Question 10

What microbe interactions are hypothesised to contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic diseases?

Answer 10

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)

Question 11

What are host and microbe interactions hypothesized to contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic disease?

Answer 11

-Bile acids
-Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)

Question 12

What are host interactions hypothesized to contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic diseases?

Answer 12

-Gut hormones
-Inflammatory cytokines
-Mediators of intestinal barrier function

Question 13

What are examples of detrimental molecules for colonic health?

Answer 13

-Ammonia, keto-acids, BCFAs, phenols, nitrosamines, h2s, amines, indoles

Question 14

What is a synbiotic?

Answer 14

Probiotic and prebiotic

Question 15

What synbiotic was used to prevent sepsis among infants in rural India?

Answer 15

Lactobacillus plantarum and FOS (fructooligosaccharide)

Question 16

What is used to help a patient with C difficile infection?

Answer 16

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)
-Stool is harvested from a healthy donor
-Fecal sample is transplanted into intestines of the patient with C difficile infection
-The organisms from the donor sample restores a healthy gut microbiome in the patient

Question 17

In the non responder vs the responder to PD-1 blockade - what cells are increased? and what cells did each have more of in the beginning

Answer 17

Non responder - CD4T cells - had more bacteriodales
Responder - CD8T cells - had more bifidobacterium, akkermansia, faecalibacterium

Question 18

4 NCDs

Answer 18

Cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease - all linked to gut microbiome

Question 19

What is in the non-industrialized-type diet (restore diet)

Answer 19

-Rich in veg, legumes, whole grain - very high in fibre
-1 serving of animal protein/day
-no dairy or wheat

Question 20

What neuroprotective antioxidant is produced by human microbiota that correlates with a lower risk of type 2 dm?

Answer 20

Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA)

Question 21

What are the opportunities associated with microbiome?

Answer 21

-Offers opportunities to improve human health
-Microbiome-based solutions could be deployed alone or in combination with existing pharmaceuticals

Question 22

Challenges associated with microbiome?

Answer 22

-Microbiome-host interactions are incredibly complex
-Still cannot define ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ microbiomes
-Mechanistic understanding still limited