Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Friday, August 27th, 2010
Might we one day be able to take a probiotic to improve our sexual performance, or to make us more attractive to the opposite sex? Perhaps so, if this recent research is anything to go by.
When Klebsiella oxytoca, a native species found in the gut of healthy fruit flies, was fed to artificially sterilized male flies, their sexual performance was enhanced.
This finding is not only one of the clearest demonstrations to date that the reintroduction of a specific microorganism can improve the overall fitness of a host, but it also demonstrates a direct connection between a gut microbe and host behaviour – specifically, in this case, a first link between a gut microbe and sexual behavior.
The fact that the return of just one bacterium was able to restore the flies’ sexual prowess adds to the growing evidence that bacteria can be effective therapeutic agents.
We already know that, in humans, the gut microbiota affects obesity, heart disease and diabetes, and it is beginning to look like the gut could even emerge as the most important organ for regulating health and disease, mainly through the actions of the bacteria it contains.
Tags: Klebsiella Oxytoca, Probiotics, Sex
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Monday, August 9th, 2010
A friend and fellow hookworm host recently fell and tore the muscles off the bones in his shoulder. Surgery was the only option as the muscles needed to be stapled back onto the bone, but he was concerned about the welfare of his recently acquired hookworm!
Fortunately, the surgical team (at a hospital in Nottingham, UK) were equipped to use a new nerve block technique to numb his whole arm.
My friend was completely fascinated by the whole experience, from the anaesthetist commenting that it was a good thing they were using ultrasound to guide the injection because the nerves in his shoulder were not where they should have been, to hearing, but not feeling, the staples driving into his shoulder.
Best of all, was the fact that the hookworm-induced diarrhoea that he had been experiencing before the operation, continued after it, confirming that the anaesthetic had not put paid to the little guys in his gut. Had he had a general anaesthetic, the nitrous oxide would have killed them outright.
Tags: Hookworm, Local Anaesthetic, Nerve Block Technique
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Monday, July 26th, 2010
Conventional wisdom tells us that animals are able to adapt genetically in ways that help them survive and reproduce, but there may be another way to gain an evolutionary advantage – adoption of a symbiont.
Scientists have recently revealed a good example of this phenomenon, which is a much quicker way for an animal to acquire a new defence than having to laboriously mutate its own genes over many generations.
A type of bacterium called Spiroplasma has been found to provide black flies with an effective defence against a parasite that impairs their reproduction, an advantage that is also passed naturally from mother to offspring.
The researchers suggest that this phenomenon may actually be common and that it may have been occurring undetected in many different organisms for ages. It could also, they propose, be employed to help control parasitic worms in humans to prevent such diseases as river blindness and elephantiasis.
Perhaps bacteria could also be used to control, rather than eradicate hookworm in those populations that are over-burdened by these organisms. This approach would obviate an unrecognised disadvantage of hookworm vaccines that arises from their removal of recipients’ ability to host hookworm in the long term, which potentially may set the stage for the development of allergy and autoimmune disease (as a result of the loss of the hookworm’s antiinflammatory benefits) and simultaneously deprive recipients of the opportunity to relieve these conditions by means of helminthic therapy.
Tags: Genes, Helminths, Hookworm, Hookworm Vaccine, Spiroplasma, Symbiont
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Saturday, July 17th, 2010
If a study recently conducted in Northern California is any indication, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is on the increase. The study found a sharp rise in cases of ulcerative colitis in children, with rates increasing nearly three-fold in the ten years up until 2006. A smaller increase was noted in cases of Crohn’s disease.
The study does not pinpoint the reasons for this rise, but one possible factor may be the changing demographics of the region surveyed, which has seen a significant increase in the proportion of Asian and Hispanic residents. This group’s risk of IBD tends to go up, as a result of westernization, after they leave their home countries – a process also observed in South Asian immigrants to the UK and Mexican immigrants to the U.S.
One of the key elements of westernization which may adversely impact immigrants is the reduction in exposure to commensal organisms, otherwise known as our ‘old friends’.
Remission from colitis can certainly be facilitated by replacing selected ‘old friends’ in the guts of patients, particularly probiotic worms and the the so-called ‘friendly’ bacteria.
Previous studies have indicated an association between a disturbance of intestinal flora and colitis, and beneficial gut bugs are already known to have an important role in balancing the intestinal bacterial population. But past studies looking at the effects on colitis of taking probiotic bacteria were of limited size and offered no definitive conclusion.
Now, however, a Chinese meta-analysis has concluded that probiotics can indeed be of value in maintaining remission in colitis.
Related posts:
New worm whips colitis into shape.
Worm-derived proteins effective against colitis.
A probiotic for IBD.
Breast milk probiotic may help ease gut disorders.
Genetically engineered bacteria effective against IBD.
Tags: 'Old Friends', Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Probiotics, Ulcerative Colitis
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010
A common bacterium found in the mouths of 1 in 20 healthy individuals may offer probiotic potential against upper respiratory tract infections.
In a recent study, two strains of Streptococcus salivarius were found to be able to bind to human pharyngeal cells and combat the pathogenic bacterium S. pyogenes, one of the main causes of upper respiratory infection, especially in children between age 5 and 12.
This discovery raises the possibility that some upper respiratory infections may be preventable by administering a common, commensal bacterium such as S. salivarius as a probiotic – perhaps in the form of a lozenge. This would clearly help to avoid the use of antibiotics, the usual therapy employed against these infections.
Previous studies have shown that ingestion of S. salivarius helps to reduce halitosis and also to inhibit systemic inflammatory cytokines, so this bacterium could have a role in lowering inflammation at other sites throughout the body, perhaps extending the domain of probiotics to areas where they have not previously been considered to have a role, such as the stomach, vaginal tract, skin and mouth.
A study being conducted currently in New Zealand is exploring the possibility that sore throats and ear infections may be reduced by having mothers-to-be suck lozenges containing streptococcus salivarius K12 every day during the last month of their pregnancy to colonise their mouths with these bacteria, then to transfer their spit, via kissing, to their offspring, after birth.
This development is reminiscent of the practice of transplanting faecal material from the guts of healthy donors into the guts of patients with Clostridium difficile infection, or ulcerative colitis, as well as its use in horses with idiopathic diarrhoea, in which case the sick horse is inoculated with bacteria from the gut of a healthy animal.
The potential therapeutic use of commensal bacteria that are well adapted to their human host, though not present in all individuals, fills me with hope for a more sane form of medicine in which doctors would be able to heal without inflicting the collateral damage that is so typical today with the synthetic pharmaceutical agents that are essentially all that is on offer to patients of mainstream medicine.
Related posts:
‘Friendly’ bacteria: side-lined healers.
Probiotic lozenges promote oral health.
Tags: Antibiotics, C. difficile, Halitosis, Idiopathic diarrhoea, Inflammation, Probiotics, S. pyogenes, S. Salivarius, Ulcerative Colitis
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Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
Kefir, a mildly alcoholic, fermented milk drink containing a variety of live microorganisms, has been shown to reduce allergic responses in mice.
Already popular as a health food in Eastern and Central Europe, kefir is now gaining fans among Western European consumers because it is easily digested and has probiotic and neutraceutical properties.
After consuming kefir for three weeks, mice injected with an egg allergen during a study in 2006 showed a reduction of 66 and 50 per cent respectively in levels of the allergy-specific Immunoglobin E (IgE) and G1 (IgG1).
Also of potential significance from this study was the finding that the kefir had changed the microflora of the intestines, increasing numbers of the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, while decreasing levels of the potentially harmful bacterium Clostridium.
Furthermore, the researchers reported that kefir prevented food antigens passing through the intestinal wall, and that the fermented milk is also thought to stimulate macrophage (scavenger cell) production, thus improving immunity.
Tags: Allergy, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, Egg Allergy, Food Allergy, IgE, IgG1, Kefir, Lactobacillus, Macrophage, Probiotics
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Saturday, July 3rd, 2010
While this heading is, in itself, remarkable, it’s only half the story, because the treatment, which uses an attenuated bacterium, may also benefit other autoimmune conditions.
The recently completed research sought to establish the safety and efficacy of BCG vaccination as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and reversal of existing type 1 diabetes and to define the exact dose and timing of administration of the vaccine.
Previous preclinical studies by the same team had established that temporarily elevating levels of an immune modulator called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can selectively and permanently eliminate the autoimmune T cells found in mice and humans with type 1 diabetes, and thus precipitate the regeneration of insulin-producing islet cells and restore the production of normal levels of insulin.
The BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine, which contains a live but weakened form of Mycobacterium bovis – the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis (TB) – was used because its administration is known to increase levels of TNF in humans.
Until recently, it had been generally believed that, in humans, beta cells divide only very infrequently after the first year or so of life and that they do not readily proliferate once type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, but recent research has shown that insulin-producing beta cells can proliferate in patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and even that different pancreatic cells can change into functional beta cells.
Having now shown that low-dose, multi-dosing regimens of BCG vaccination are safe in individuals with type 1 diabetes and that there were no severe reactions to the vaccine, the Massachusetts team are now planning the next stage of their research.
Not only is the possibility of reversing type 1 diabetes now on the cards, but it looks likely that this may be achieved by administering the already available BCG vaccine, and what works for type 1 diabetes may potentially benefit patients with other types of autoimmune disease, so this work offers a glimmer of real hope to many.
Tags: Autoimmune Disease, BCG Vaccine, Beta Cells, Insulin, Islet Cells, Mycobacterium bovis, T-cells, TNF, Tuberculosis (TB), Type 1 Diabetes
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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Earlier studies had shown that mice raised in germ-free environments have poorly developed immune systems, but no mechanism had been revealed by which bacteria help to develop and maintain the immune system, until now.
In ground-breaking research, molecules on the surface of bacterial spores have been observed binding to molecules on the surfaces of B lymphocytes – key components of the immune system that produce antibodies which fight harmful viruses and bacteria. This union then resulted in the B cells dividing and multiplying.
This discovery could potentially lead to the use of bacterial spores to treat people with weak or undeveloped immune systems, and perhaps even to fight cancers.
Tags: Antibodies, Bacterial Spores, Cancer, Immune System, Lymphocytes
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Thursday, June 17th, 2010
Evidence from Manchester University suggests that we may need both bacteria and worms in our gut for an optimally healthy immune system, and that the relationship between worms, bugs and their host is like a three legged stool: remove one leg and the whole thing collapses.
Researchers studying the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris in mice have concluded that gut parasites have an essential role to play in developing immunity, as part of a complex and subtle interaction that has developed between helminths, intestinal bacteria and their hosts to provide an efficient and beneficial ecosystem for all concerned.
For further comment on this research, see: New gut ecosystem model?
Tags: Gut Bacteria, Immune System, Intestinal Worms, Trichuris muris
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Thursday, June 17th, 2010
There is now clear evidence that obesity is linked to changes in gut microflora.
Earlier studies have shown that populations of gut bacteria in the obese are different from those in lean people, and that, when obese people lose weight, their microflora reverts to what is seen in lean people. Previous studies have also demonstrated that the bacterium, Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055), may reduce the level of fat in animals.
Now it has been shown that daily supplements of the same strain of Lactobacillus may help weight loss in obese humans.
In this latest study, subjects consumed a fermented milk product containing LG2055 for twelve weeks, at which point they showed a 4.6 per cent reduction in abdominal fat, a 3.3 per cent reduction in subcutaneous fat, an overall drop in body weight of 1.4 per cent and a waist size decrease of 1.8 per cent.
Tags: Fermented Milk, Lactobacillus Gasseri, Obesity
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Sunday, June 13th, 2010
For some time, the small intestine-dwelling hookworm, Necator americanus has proved remarkably effective in the treatment of Crohn’s disease, without any long-term side effects. However, people with ulcerative colitis have found hookworm to be less effective in treating this disease than it is for other autoimmune diseases. Fortunately, reports are now starting to appear of just how effective the colon-dwelling whipworm, Trichuris trichiura, is against colitis.
Some people are using the eggs of the pig whipworm, Trichuris suis, to treat colitis but, as this organism only survives in humans for a couple of weeks, regular dosing is required, and the cost of this continued treatment is considerable. By comparison, the human whipworm survives in humans for approximately two years, representing much greater convenience and much lower cost.
The only side effects of human whipworm treatment are very minor, temporary symptoms in the first few weeks after taking a dose of the eggs (in a drink), and there are no long-term adverse effects, which puts this treatment in an entirely different league from the current therapies offered by mainstream medicine in the form of pharmaceutical drugs, the majority of which carry serious risks from long-term use, and some of which may prove fatal.
Both hookworm and whipworm can be obtained, for self-administration, from Autoimmune Therapies.
Tags: Autoimmune Therapies, Crohn's Disease, Hookworm, Necator Americanus, Trichuris Suis, Trichuris Trichiura, Ulcerative Colitis, Whipworm
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Saturday, June 5th, 2010
A specific strain of Lactobacillus reuteri, a probiotic found in breast milk, as well as in the gut of many animals, has been shown to reduce or eliminate painful cramping in sections of small intestine taken from healthy and previously untreated mice.
The bacterium decreased the force of muscle contractions within minutes of exposure.
This discovery suggests that increasing the intake of this bacterium may help alleviate symptoms in a wide range of gut disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, functional bowel disorders, and constipation.
There is already considerable evidence for the beneficial effects of L. Reuteri, which has been shown to possess pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. Strains of this bacterium are known to be helpful in warding off genitourinary infections, promoting oral health, preventing eczema and reducing fever, stomach infections and common colds in children.
A strain of L. reuteri (L. reuteri Protectis) has, for a number of years, been included in an over-the-counter treatment for infant colic called Infacol Probiotic Drops.
Tags: Common Cold, Constipation, Eczema, Fever, Genitourinary Infection, Infacol Probiotic Drops, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), L. reuteri Protectis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Probiotics
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Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Doctors at two Boston hospitals are seeking patients with food allergies – particularly those with a moderately serious peanut allergy – to take part in a clinical trial to assess the therapeutic value of ingesting the eggs of the pig whipworm, Trichuris suis (TSO).
The eggs, which are microscopic, have no discernible smell or taste and are invisible to the naked eye, are taken in a drink every other week.
The researchers believe that this treatment has the potential to change the lives of millions of allergy sufferers, no matter what type of allergy they have.
This is one of a number of trials taking place around the world to gauge the effects of replacing some of the parasites that we in the Western world have lost in recent times, due to lifestyle changes.
The reintroduction of some of these lost microorganisms, by means of Helminthic Therapy, has already proved to be of great benefit in ameliorating allergy and anaphylaxis and suitable organisms can already be purchased privately by individuals – TSO from Ovamed (five year cost approximately $55,000.00) and the human hookworm, Necator americanus (which produces the same beneficial effects in cases of allergy, yet costs only $2,900.00 over five years) from Autoimmune Therapies.
One particular question that the researchers of the Boston study hope to answer is exactly how long people would have to ingest regular doses of TSO to keep food allergies at bay. The need for this particular regimen is, however, peculiar to treatment with TSO. The human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura only needs to be taken every two years, and the human hookworm, Necator americanus, every five years. For further discussion on the selection of helminths, see Return of the Lost Worms.
Anyone interested in joining the Boston study should contact Marie-Helene Jouvin at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (617-667-2816)
Tags: Allergy, Anaphylaxis, Autoimmune Therapies, Food Allergy, Helminthic Therapy, Helminths, Hookworm, Necator Americanus, Peanut Allergy, Trichuris Suis, Trichuris Trichiura, TSO
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Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
An article in a Scottish newspaper recently revealed that a thirty nine-year-old Crohn’s patient had died of starvation after doctors had said there was nothing more they could do for her.
Wendy Ritchie’s case is reminiscent of that of Annabel Senior, an M.E. (CFIDS) sufferer who also found there was nothing left that she could eat without suffering unacceptably severe symptoms, so bravely chose to stop eating.
As someone with both Crohn’s disease and M.E., and very severe food intolerance, I was fortunate to discover Helminthic Therapy before I began to react to the last remaining item of food that I could tolerate.
Sadly, this treatment was not available when Annabel was alive, but I can’t help wondering what the outcome might have been for Wendy, had she been offered this option.
Helminthic therapy has been exhaustively tested in countless humans over millions of years, and optimised by evolution. There is already clear scientific evidence for its beneficial effect on Crohn’s and other autoimmune diseases, and, unlike the majority of drug treatments, helminthic therapy is safe and free from any long-term side effects.
While doctors continue to turn a blind eye to this treatment, and incorrectly advise some patients that ‘nothing more can be done’, the media are fortunately beginning to publicise helminthic therapy.
Tags: Autoimmune Disease, Crohn's Disease, Food Intolerance, Helminthic Therapy, M.E.
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
This test tube study suggests the possibility that manipulating the balance of intestinal bacteria by taking probiotics – such as bifidobacteria – and prebiotics may improve the quality of life for those with coeliac disease and other autoimmune diseases.
For more in-depth discussion of this topic, see this article by Dr Mercola.
Tags: Autoimmune Disease, Bifidobacteria, Coeliac Disease, Prebiotics, Probiotics
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