Researchers at the Biodesign Center for Health Through Microbiomes are developing studies and medical interventions to understand the gut microbiome, which is being studied in the context of skeletal health and evolutionary dynamics, among other topics.
The gut, colloquially known as the “second brain,” relies on a complex microbiome of varying bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract. The gut microbiome is vital for digesting food and producing metabolites, and can have profound impacts on health and a diverse array of effects on the body.
James Adams, a professor and faculty member for the center, said the gut contains a large number of neurons and produces active substances, similar to how the brain functions, which leads to the nickname of the “second brain.” He emphasized the importance of gut health and proper nutrition.
“Most people consume half or less of the recommended fiber,” Adams said. “The cells that line the gut are literally starving for the nutrients they need, and that probably contributes to most of the gut problems so many people have in the U.S.”
The gut microbiome not only affects the GI system. Joseph Roberts, a professor in the College of Health Solutions and faculty member for the center, said gut health can impact the skeletal system as well.
“The microbiome is a major contributor to the physiology of nearly every tissue in our body, and it can influence the health of a skeleton,” Roberts said.
Skeletal systems are affected through the production of metabolites and connections with the immune system.
After eating, gut microbes digest and ferment food into metabolites that are absorbed across the intestine and affect bone growth or breakdown. Certain interventions in the gut microbiome can have beneficial effects on bone healing and fractures.
“We have published and shown that probiotics can improve, … accelerate and enhance fracture healing,” Roberts said.
The gut also communicates with the immune system through specialized cells, Roberts said. He added that such interactions trigger immune responses that affect the remodeling and health of bones.
On a broader scale, the evolution of the microbiome can potentially lead to varied approaches to gut microbiome intervention based on individuals’ geographic background and residence history.
[embedded content]
Taichi Suzuki, a professor at the center, is working on answering questions related to host microbial coevolution, which refers to how hosts and microbes influence one another’s evolution over long periods of time.
He said his research investigates how residents who have lived in Phoenix, both long-term and recent immigrants, may have retained aspects of their native microbiomes, or if those microbial communities have changed due to new living conditions.
“Our main question is, what happens if we lose these native microbiomes?” Suzuki said. “What are the consequences? Does it affect our immune system, metabolism, behavior?”
This research may affect potential future personalization of healthcare. Tailoring medical treatments to individuals’ specific microbial backgrounds may be useful, as probiotics effective in one population may not work similarly in another, he said.
Suzuki emphasized the passion he has for the lab, adding that it has the unique ability to “help, potentially, people with disease” through understanding their microbiomes.
Edited by Kate Gore, George Headley and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at jdtamay1@asu.edu follow @JTamayo46036 on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
John TamayoSci-Tech Reporter
John Tamayo is a science and technology reporter in his first semester with The State Press. He is a senior majoring in Physics and Philosophy.