Genomic and Metabolic Studies of the Impact of Probiotics on a Model Gut Symbiont and Host
2006
How Bacterial Communities Expand Functional Repertoires
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): James Versalovic, David Relman
Primary Institution: Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University
Hypothesis
Can microbial communities be effectively manipulated by administering defined dosages of a specific probiotic?
Conclusion
Probiotics can alter the functions of resident microbiota and may lead to significant changes in host physiology.
Supporting Evidence
- The human microbiome contains roughly 100 times as many genes as does the human genome.
- Probiotics can lead to communal population shifts in the gut.
- Specific prebiotics can alter microbial composition and host physiology.
Takeaway
Probiotics are good bacteria that can help our bodies, but we need to understand how they work with other bacteria in our gut.
Methodology
The study utilized mouse models to explore the interactions between probiotics and gut bacteria.
Limitations
The findings from mouse studies may not fully translate to human physiology.
Participant Demographics
The study primarily involved mouse models.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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