Lecture 10.2

Question 1

The gut contains …..X more bacteria than cells in the body

Answer 1

10

Question 2

How do we study gut microbes?

Answer 2

16s ribosomal RNA sequencing
Metabolism is
Germ free mice

Question 3

Describe 16s ribosomal RNA sequencing

Answer 3

It identifies different species of microbes within the gut

Question 4

Describe metabolomics

Answer 4

They identify the metabolic products produced by bacteria

Question 5

Describe germ free mice as a way to study gut microbiomes

Answer 5

These mice have no microbiomes, allowing for humans to introduce single strains or full microbiomes to the system to see what occurs
This has shown to decrease anxiety
Can’t achieve germ free environments with antibiotics

Question 6

List some metabolite examples and what they do

Answer 6

GABA- Excitatory for enteric neurons
Serotonin- excitatory for enteric neurons
Histamine- inflammatory mediator
Short chain fatty acids- excite intrinsic sensory neurons via GPCRs

Question 7

What does stress do to the microbiomes?

Answer 7

It modifies it which overall modifies central mood

Question 8

What does a changes microbiomes do to someone with Autism?

Answer 8

An altered microbiomes leads to an increase in Clostridium sp, which alters behaviour- however some say differently
Can treat with drug but not too much, as we don’t want a resistance to occur