Microbiomes – News and Features

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Add Probiotics to Dark Chocolate for Health Benefits, Say Researchers
The modified chocolates also had higher antioxidant levels than regular dark chocolate.

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Why Do Some Species Resist Cancer Better Than Others?
A new study, led by researchers at Arizona State University, explores the relationship between diet, blood sugar (specifically glucose) and cancer prevalence across a broad range of vertebrate species.

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Gut Microbiome in Infancy May Protect Against High Blood Pressure
An NIH-supported study found that infants with more diverse gut bacteria at one month had lower blood pressure at age six. The protective effect was stronger in babies breastfed for at least six months.

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Microbiome Shifts in Antarctic Seas Due to Climate Change
Coordinated measures highlight that bacteria and other single-celled microorganisms in the seas around Antarctica are strongly influenced by water temperature and the amount of sea ice.

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Early Antibiotic Use May Raise Diabetes Risk
A study from the University of Utah Health suggests early antibiotic use may disrupt insulin-producing beta cells, increasing the risk of metabolic disorders like type 1 diabetes.

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Just Three Days of Fatty Foods Can Impair Memory
A study finds that a high-fat diet causes memory impairment and brain inflammation in older rats within three days. Unlike young rats, aged rats showed cognitive decline before obesity developed.

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Bacterial Enzyme Could Aid Prebiotic and Therapeutic Research
A Tokyo University of Science study identifies a novel β-galactosidase in Bacteroides xylanisolvens that breaks down β-1,2-galactooligosaccharides. The enzyme could aid in prebiotic development and may inform treatments for diseases like Chagas.

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Synthetic Microbiome Therapy Offers Safer Alternative to Fecal Transplants
Scientists develop a synthetic microbiome therapy to fight C. difficile infections offering a safer, targeted alternative to fecal transplants.

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Study Reveals Gut Microbes Feed On More Than Fiber
Gut microbes that were thought to feed exclusively on dietary fiber also get fed sugar from our guts, from which they produce short-chain fatty acids that are crucial to many body functions.

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Microbes in Leaves Help Plants Adapt to Poor Soil Conditions
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have identified a genetic circuit that regulates leaf growth in maize, influenced by leaf-dwelling microbes. The study highlights how microbial communities help plants adapt to environmental stresses.
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