Human Microbiome pt2

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello listeners, It's time once again for another episode of
These Science Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, a show
dedicated to blowing your mind with science. You should be
aware of that today's episode is a continuation of last
week's episode. We started a topic too big for a
single episode. We talked about the microbiome of the human body.

(00:27):
We talked about the microbiome diversity across the body. We
talked about microbiome and immunity as well as the impact
of antibiotics. We talked about fecal microbiota that's right. We
talked about infant microbiome development. We even talked about diet

(00:47):
in the microbiome. We talked about obesity and metabolic health.
We've been talked about probiotics and prebiotics. Today's episode, we're
to start off with microbiome and allergies. Modern life, with

(01:08):
its sanitized environments and reduced microbial exposure, correlates with rising
allergy rates. Children raised on farms or with pats are
exposed to more microbial diversity and are less likely to
develop asthma or ezema. Early life antibiotic use and cesarean

(01:30):
birth also increase allergy risk. Researchers believe the microbiome plays
a critical role in tolerizing the immune system to harmless allergens.
Treatments using beneficial microbes to prevent or reverse allergies are
in development. Next microbioman skin health. Skin microbes protect against

(01:56):
pathogens and help maintain skin barrier function. An imbalance in
the skin microbiome is associated with acne, ezema and psoriasis.
Cutibacterium acnes formerly propione Bacterium acneisum gladly change the name
is implicated in acne, though new research suggests imbalance, not

(02:21):
just presence, matters. Some skin care companies now offer probiotic
creams to restore microbial balance. Additionally, microbial therapies are being
tested to treat ezema by introducing strains that out compete
Striplococus aros, a major skin pathogen. Next up the virome

(02:47):
and mycobiome. Beyond bacteria, our bodies, host viruses the virome,
and fungi the mysobiome. Some viral verses, like bacteriophages, infact
bacteria and help maintain microbial balance. Others may lie dorman,

(03:09):
influencing immunity and inflammation. The microbiome, although less understood, includes
fungi like Candida, which can become pathogenic when out of balance.
A broader understanding of these microbial layers is crucial, especially
in diseases like inflammatory botel disease, where fungal and viral

(03:30):
shifts are observed. Next up microbiome and cancer. The microbiome
can promote or protect against cancer. Certain bacteria produced toxins
the damaged DNA, increasing cancer risk, such as Fusobacterium and
necletum in colon cancer. Conversely, a diverse, healthy microbiome can

(03:55):
enhance the immune's system's ability to fight tumors. Recent studies
show that gut microbes influence responses to cancer immunotherapy. Some
patients only respond to treatments like checkpoint inhibitors if they
have specific microbial profiles. FMT is now being tested to

(04:16):
enhance treatment outcomes. Next microbiomin aging. As we age, microbiome
diversity typically decreases and beneficial species are replaced by pro
inflammatory ones. This shift contributes to chronic inflammation, implementing frailty

(04:38):
and age related diseases. Centenarians tend to maintain unique and
diverse microbiomes, possibly contributing to their longevity lifestyle factors, diet, exercise,
and antibiotic use impact how the microbiomes age. New therapies
aim to rejuvenate the microbe biome through diet, premiotics, or

(05:03):
even youth derived microbiotic transplants. Next, let's take a look
at some microbiome in space. Astronauts in space face unique
microbial challenges due to microgravity, radiation, and confined environments. Studies

(05:27):
on the International Space Station revealed that the gut microbiome
shifts during spaceflight, with reduced diversity and stress related to changes.
These alterations may impact digestion, immunity, and mental health. NASA's

(05:49):
Twins studies found that one astronaut experienced microbiome changes that
reverse upon return to Earth. Understanding microbial resilience is vital
for long term missions such as those to Mars. Everyone
has a microbial fingerprint, a unique pattern of bacteria on

(06:13):
their skin, mouth, and belongings. Microbial forensics uses this trace
signature to identify individuals or reconstruct events. Researchers have shown
that you can often match a person to the microbiome
left on a keyboard or phone. These techniques are being

(06:36):
explored for crime scene investigation. Privacy concerns and bioterrorism response. Next,
we're going to talk about the microbiome and drug metabolism.
Gut microbes don't just passively coexist. They actively metabolize drugs.

(07:00):
Some microbes deactivate medications like digoxin, while others amplify their effects.
This microbial metabolism contributes to variation in how patients respond
to treatments. In the future, clinicians may analyze microbiomes before

(07:23):
prescribing certain drugs to avoid negative interactions or optimize efficacy.
How about microbiome and neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging evidence links microbiome
health to conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. In Parkinson's,

(07:51):
gut systems often precede motor ones, and specific microbial shifts
have been identified In animal model gut bacteria influence brain
inflammation and protein misfolding. The possibility that modulating the microbiome
could delay or prevent neurodegenerative diseases is now a major

(08:15):
research frontier. End up next, microbial extinction. Modern lifestyles driving
the extinction of ancient microbial species. Hunter gatherers like the
Hadza of Tanzania have microbiomes vastly more diverse than those

(08:39):
in industrialized populations. Factors like processed foods, antibiotics, and urbanization
reduce microbial variety. Losing these old friends may contribute to
rising rates of chronic Diseasesfforts are underway to catalog and

(09:02):
preserve in danger microbes before they disappear. And lastly, for today,
the personalized microbiome. Each person's microbiome is as unique as
a fingerprint shaped by genetics, environment, diet in medical history.

(09:31):
Companies now offer microbiome sequencing and personalized health plans. The
promise of precision medicine targeting disease prevention and therapy based
on individual microbiomes is becoming reality. From weight loss to

(09:52):
mental health. The ability to tailor interventions at the microbial
level is revolution size in wellness. Unfortunately, that's all the
time that we've got for today's episode of the Science
Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. I don't know about you,
but my mind's blown. I can't thank you enough for

(10:16):
taking in another episode. I feel dirty with all these
microbes and go take a bath until next time.