Can the intestinal flora really control our emotions? October 25, 2016 Source: Bio Valley The above is some of the textbook knowledge, and a lot of recent research has revealed the unexpected new features of these "little partners" in the human body. There is evidence that gut bacteria can protect us from or make us more susceptible to pathogens that may be involved in diseases such as inflammation, diabetes and obesity. A large amount of data also shows that intestinal bacteria can even affect our mood and behavior. Microbiology research is currently a very hot research area. In May, the US government launched a national microbiome program with a total budget of about $500 million, and the European Union has funded more than 300 research projects related to the microbiome. Yolanda Sanz from the Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Food Technology of the National Research Council of Spain coordinates the work of MyNewGut, the largest community in the field of microbial research in the European Union, which consists of 30 partners from 15 countries. Foreign online media, youris.com, interviewed Sanz and asked some interesting questions about the research landscape and the links between the microbiome and the brain. How is our gut flora formed and how does the gut flora change over time? We have a complex bacterial ecosystem in our small intestine; we call it the intestinal flora, which contains at least 1,000 different bacterial species. We acquired most of the gut microbes soon after birth, although there is evidence that the colon has colonized the gut before birth. The composition of this microbial population is very unstable 2 to 3 years after birth. This situation has a common period with the immaturity of the immune system. At this stage, the intestinal flora is greatly affected by diet, such as breastfeeding. By the time the adult diet is eaten, the composition of the gut flora becomes more stable and a unique microbial population is formed. This situation usually lasts until the old age, and the diet of the elderly becomes more diversified and more unstable, just like a baby. To some extent, the evolution of microbial populations reflects our growth and aging. Then we have obtained a colony identity. Does everyone have their own unique bacterial fingerprints? Yes, each person has different bacterial species and strain components in the intestines. If I need to put a chart here, I would say that about a quarter of the intestinal bacteria is unique to everyone, but it is difficult to give an accurate estimate. At the same time, we know that our genome affects the intestinal flora, and we don't know how this happens, but at least some of the characteristics of the intestinal flora are indeed related to our DNA. What happens when people completely change their diet? For example, if I start a strict vegetarian life, will this change my flora status? Studies have shown that if your diet changes dramatically, such as changing the composition of fiber, protein or fat, you will see a relatively rapid change in your gut bacteria. Approximately 30-40% of the bacteria will have abundance changes. In a way, you will get a new flora identity to guide you to change your diet again. The drug also changes the intestinal flora. Recent studies have indicated that antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other types of drugs that are not directly in contact with bacteria can alter the flora structure. This situation is more complicated than the phenomenon observed a few years ago. What is the relationship between the intestinal flora, the brain and the emotions? There is growing evidence that there is a brain axis established by bacteria in the body, and bacteria can affect the brain and vice versa. Researchers from Canada have found that a particularly timid and shy mouse breed becomes more active and curious after undergoing a transplant of another mouse's gut flora. We know that some intestinal bacteria produce compounds that affect the nervous system: for example, neurotransmitters or metabolites that alter the blood-brain barrier. We don't know the exact mechanism, but it is very clear that intestinal bacteria affect mood and behavior patterns. Do these findings also apply to humans? Most of the information comes from animal research, but some research data about humans is also very solid. For example, patients with depression show changes in intestinal bacteria. In addition, transplanting the flora of a patient with depression to mice can replicate the pathological features of depression. The difficulty in conducting human trials is that we can only analyze the patient's feces, and the bacteria in the feces are more representative of the flora in the lower intestinal part. In order to obtain information about other parts of the digestive tract, you need to perform biopsy or other invasive tests on healthy people, which is of course unethical. Can we envision using probiotics to treat human brain disorders, at least to alleviate some of the symptoms? There have been some trials for patients with depression who have been treated with probiotics. The results are still very encouraging, but they are all small studies, and there is still much work to be done before we can conclude whether these interventions are really effective. We have found many connections between gut flora and disease: in order to further advance treatment, we need to establish a causal relationship and closely observe the mechanism by which bacteria interact with the nervous system. To make further progress, we also need to conduct research on a larger patient population, integrating different omics methods, such as genomics and proteomics. We must realize that the United States is investing more in this area than in Europe, and there is still much room for cooperation. We work hard to ensure that most of the genomic data is made available to the entire scientific research community. There are still many challenges to overcome in the future. It is not easy to translate the research results obtained in mouse models into human studies, but I think we are moving forward in a promising direction. Puyang Linshi Medical Supplies Co., Ltd. , https://www.linshimedical.com