Soooooo...

our microbiome aids digestion, produces vitamins, and supports our immune function. 

btw...Escherichia coli (E. coli) is named after its discoverer, German pediatrician Theodor Escherich, and its location, the colon. "Escherichia" honors Escherich (who found the bacteria in infant feces), and "coli" comes from the word colon.

3. bacteria produce 
Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
such as butyrate from fiber which influence the brain and maintain the blood brain barrier (BBB). 

antibiotics and dysbiosis

application of broad-spectrum antibiotics that target bacteria indiscriminately, eliminating harmful pathogens but also wiping out beneficial gut microbes. diverse beneficial populations, especially small, sensitive ones like Bifidobacterium, are killed off leading to less stable ecosystems. with competition gone, pro-inflammatory bacteria (like Proteobacteria) and antibiotic-resistant genes can bloom. 

 evidence shows that our microbiome produces 
 neurotransmitters and their precursors, stimulates the

enteric and vagus nerves, and affects brain function and cognition. correlations between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system have sparked a new research field called Neuromicrobiology.
Microbiome-targeted interventions are being tested but
specifics re the host-microbiome relationship is still not clearly understood. 

Our microbiota is acquired starting at birth from mom's birth canal and breast milk. then dad's kisses. Sister's hand holding. The dog licking fingers. We then encounter microbes in/on the soil and water and plants. We eat microbes with our food. 

 although  1/2 million microbe species populate our planet, just a few hundred have evolved to symbiotically live with humans!

what are bacteria?

let's take a quick look at prokaryotes

that help us promote 
good gut health

Gut bacteria produce hundreds of neurochemicals used by our brains to regulate many physiological and mental processes such as cognition, sleep and mood. 

good news..

breast milk provides probiotic bacteria to populate the baby’s gut.
it also contains prebiotic complex carbs/proteins babies can't digest but that serve as food for Bifidobacteria, microbes which line the baby's intestines and prevent infection by pathogens. 

 what's the take-away?

eukaryote

4. bacteria reduce inflammation by strengthening the gut barrier to prevent 'leaky gut' and endotoxins from entering the blood supply.
SCFAs are also anti-inflammatory.

good gut health = a balanced gut microbiome.
help maintain it by a diet rich in diverse fibers, probiotics (fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi), and prebiotics (garlic, onions, oats), with stress management, sufficient sleep, staying hydrated, exercising, avoiding a lot of processed foods and
avoiding unnecessary antibiotics

​4. Immune System: Gut microbes modulate                         inflammation, which sends signals to the brain 

healthy gut flora must be nurtured

what do we call these bacteria?

 trains immune cells to not react to harmless substances and promotes anti-inflammatory assets like Treg cells

Microbes identify our cell's surface proteins to help them find their niche in/on our bodies...chemical communication and physical cues. temperature etc.
Our microbiome is not randomly assembled. Rather, it is a complex dance of mutual selection. 

2. bacteria activate our 
Vagus Nerve
​which acts as a direct line of communication between our gut and our brain

our microbiome
​part II

                                     the future...
1. Personalized Microbiome Therapies: 
    analyze individual microbiomes to create tailored            probiotics, prebiotics, or dietary plans for specific
    conditions.
2. Neurodegenerative Diseases:
    understanding relationship between gut microbes
    and Alzheimer's (AD) & Parkinson's (PD) to create
    prevention or treatment strategies
3. Mental Health Disorders:
    how do specific microbial strains and their                        metabolites influence depression, anxiety, and
    autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms.
4. Early Life & Development:
    Understanding the gut-brain axis during
    neurodevelopment. how does the maternal                        microbiome influence offspring health?
5. And other microbes?
    which other microbes (like fungi) and their
    metabolites influence our gut biome? 

let's dive a bit deeper into this fascinating topic...

if you missed part one, you may access that page here:

mostly GI tract but also skin surface, 
mouth, respiratory tract, reproductive tract, nasal passages, urinary tract, and blood

where does this microbiome come from?

where... 

are microbes found in/on our bodies?

bacterial names come from the Linnaean binomial system. Italicized, latinized names such as
Escherichia coli are
abbreviated to E. coli

Their names are derived from descriptions, places, or people. They now can reflect evolutionary relationships via genomic data.

Long-term consequences

Inflammation: Dysbiosis can impair the microbiota's ability to control gut inflammation, potentially leading to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
Immune System Weakening: Prolonged imbalance can weaken the immune system.
Gut-Brain Axis Issues: Impacts the gut-brain connection, linked to anxiety, depression, and cognitive issues.
Chronic Diseases: Early-life antibiotic exposure is linked to later development of asthma and autoimmune conditions. 

which bacteria are we talking about??

  SCFAs like butyrate are produced when anaerobic gut microbes ferment                      indigestible dietary fibers (prebiotics) in the large intestine.                                                  SCFAs support brain function by:
​
a. strengthening the BBB by helping to form form tight junctions between brain endothelial cells, reducing permeability.

b. influencing the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.

c. calming overactive microglia (your brain's immune cells) and reducing neuroinflammation.

d. altering gene expression by inhibiting histone deacetylases.

how do bacteria differ from virus?

why??

Most microbes do not have the tools to join our microbiome. Others that do must compete with the microbes already established. The process of selection occurs. 

serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter and hormone. it regulates mood, sleep, appetite, digestion, memory, and behavior, and also significantly impacts gut health, and bowel function. 

your vagus nerve, cranial nerve X (10), is the primary nerve of your parasympathetic (rest & digest) nervous system
which controls functions such as digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, mood, immune system responses,
skin and muscle sensations, speech and taste.

the left and right vagal nerves contain 75% of your parasympathetic nervous system’s nerve fibers, communicating via a two way system between
your brain, heart and digestive system.

competes with pro-inflammatory microbes.

1. bacteria synthesize  neurotransmitters and their precursors 

so many microbes...

               Neurotransmitters
  produced by your microbiota:
1. Serotonin:
    neurotransmitter affects mood, sleep,          appetite
​     90%+ produced in your gut

2. GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)               inhibitory neurotransmitter controls             fear and anxiety

3. Dopamine & Norepinephrine:
     impact reward, focus, and mood

​4. Glutamate:
​     key excitatory neurotransmitter                     necessary for learning and memory

what is dysbiosis?

bacteria

symbiosis: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism