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New research in Science sheds light on the formidable collective strength of gut bacteria in combating infectious diseases. The study indicates that a diverse and abundant community of gut microbes engages in a competition for nutrients against pathogens, limiting the invaders’ ability to colonize and invade the body effectively.
Lead author Frances Spragge, from the University of Oxford, notes that when a broad array of gut bacteria vies for nutrients, the resources available to invading pathogens become restricted, hindering their invasion.
Thomas Schmidt, a microbiology and immunology professor at the University of Michigan, not involved in the study, highlights that the findings underscore the pivotal role of resource competition in conferring resistance against colonization by pathogens.
The research involved screening 100 human gut bacteria strains against two bacterial pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhimurium, notorious for causing pneumonia and food poisoning, respectively. While individual strains showed limited capacity to impede pathogen growth, combining the top 10 strains significantly enhanced protection. Remarkably, a blend of 50 species, particularly including Escherichia coli, showcased even more robust resistance.
Tests in mice corroborated these findings, revealing that a higher number of bacterial species in the gut community led to increased protection against pathogens, especially when crucial gut species were present, such as E. coli, due to their similar nutrient consumption patterns as the pathogens.
This research, while requiring further exploration, holds potential for developing microbiome-based treatments for infectious diseases. Understanding which combinations of gut bacteria offer heightened protection against specific pathogens could lead to innovative treatment strategies.
As microbiome-based treatments gain traction, these insights may pave the way for refined therapies targeting diverse pathogens, leveraging the competitive advantage of certain gut microbes. Additionally, advancements in genomics may facilitate personalized treatment approaches based on an individual’s gut bacteria composition to combat infections more effectively.
While these developments progress, the study emphasizes the importance of promoting gut health through dietary measures, such as a high-fiber diet, and prudent use of antibiotics to preserve microbiome diversity and mitigate the risk of infection by bacterial pathogens, as highlighted by Frances Spragge.
Christina Szalinski, a freelance science writer with expertise in cell biology, contributed to this report from upstate New York.
