Latest news with #NatureCommunications
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
New 'Living' Material That Sucks CO2 From Air Developed By Scientists
Scientists have developed a new 'photosynthetic' material capable of absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) that can one day be used in buildings to fight climate change. The Swiss researchers have created the innovative substance using blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which converts CO2, sunlight and water into oxygen and sugars through photosynthesis. Under specific nutrient conditions, it can also turn CO2 into sturdy, eco-friendly construction components and solid minerals such as limestone, providing permanent carbon storage while strengthening the material. "Cyanobacteria are among the oldest life forms in the world. They are highly efficient at photosynthesis and can utilise even the weakest light to produce biomass from CO2 and water," said Yifan Cui, one of the two lead authors of the study. The carrier material that harbours the living cells is a hydrogel - a gel made of cross-linked polymers with a high water content, according to the study published in the journal Nature Communications. To ensure that the cyanobacteria live as long as possible and remain efficient, the researchers optimised the geometry of the structures using 3D printing processes to increase the surface area, increase light penetration and promote the flow of nutrients. "We engineered printable photosynthetic living materials that were capable of carbon sequestration through biomass accumulation and inorganic carbonate precipitation," the study highlighted. Test results Test results showed that the material continuously absorbed CO2 over a 400-day period, with most of the "sequestered carbon stored in the stable mineral form". The total amount of CO2 sequestered through mineral formation after 400 days was 26 milligrams per gram of CO2 per gram of material. This is significantly more than many biological approaches and comparable to the chemical mineralisation of recycled concrete (around 7 mg CO2 per gram). "With minimum requirements of sunlight and atmospheric CO2, our photosynthetic living materials showed a consistent carbon sequestration efficiency throughout the entire incubation period," the researchers stated. At an art exhibition in Venice, Italy, the researchers presented the material in the form of two tree trunk-like objects that could absorb up to 18 kilograms of CO2 per year or as much as a 20-year-old pine tree.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Cold sore virus takes over human DNA within just one hour, study finds
The cold sore-causing Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) hijacks human cells and reconfigures its DNA within just an hour after infection, according to a new study that may help tackle the pathogen. Viruses are dependant on their hosts for replication, and upon infecting cells they tend to take over its cellular machinery to make new copies of themselves. Scientists have now found that the herpes virus not only hijacks its host's genome, but tends to reorganise the entire internal structure of the cells it infects within an hour after infection. Two out of every three people under the age of 50 live with HSV-1, and once infected, they have the virus for life. Although most cases are asymptomatic or manifest as mostly benign but recurrent cold sores, in rare cases the virus can cause blindness or life-threatening disease in newborns or those with compromised immunity. herpes infection and dementia in older adults. The new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, found that HSV-1 reshapes the human genome's structure, making it compact and dense so that the virus can access host genes most useful for it to reproduce. This finding could lead to new treatments to control the virus, which infects nearly four billion people worldwide, researchers say. "HSV-1 is an opportunistic interior designer, reshaping the human genome with great precision and choosing which bits it comes into contact with. It's a novel mechanism of manipulation we didn't know the virus had to exploit host resources," said Esther González Almela, first author of the study. While previous studies have suggested that HSV infection leads to compacting and reshaping host chromosomes, it remained unclear whether it was a side effect of the cold sore virus infection or caused directly by the pathogen itself. The latest study is the first to prove that HSV-1 reshapes the human genome deliberately and within hours of infection. Researchers also found that blocking a single host cell enzyme – topoisomerase I – completely blocked the cold sore virus' crucial ability to rearrange the human genome. "In cell culture, inhibiting this enzyme stopped the infection before the virus could make a single new particle," said Pia Cosma, another author of the study. "That gives us a potential new therapeutic target to stop infection,' Dr Cosma said. In the study, scientists used super-resolution microscopy to peer into ultra small cell structures just 20 nanometres wide, which is around 3,500 times thinner than a strand of hair. They combined this with another technique that reveals which bits of DNA are touching inside the nucleus. These techniques showed that the herpes virus' hostile takeover begins within the first hour, with the virus hijacking a key human enzyme – RNA-polymerase II – to synthesise its own proteins. Just three hours after infection, the virus causes a sizeable fraction of molecules involved in human DNA replication to abandon the cell nucleus and enter viral replication compartments. The wholesale theft causes a collapse of any activity across the host genome, which then gets crushed into a dense shell just 30 per cent of its original volume. Scientists hope the latest findings can help address the global health challenge posed by HSV-1 due to its prevalence and ability to cause recurrent outbreaks.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
This creature can 3D-print its own body parts
Most people will never see a bristle worm in the wild, but according to a new study, the science derived from these bristly beasts may someday benefit you or someone you know. Bristle worms—aka polychaetes— are saltwater worms with elaborate, hair-like structures; in some species, they allow the animals to paddle through the open ocean or 'walk' across the seafloor. 'One of the reasons that we're interested in bristle worms is because they're great models for regeneration biology,' says Florian Raible, a molecular biologist at the University of Vienna in Austria. 'So, they can actually regenerate most of their body, and they can do this very well compared to other systems.' While most of the lab was focusing on these regenerative superpowers, one of Raible's postdoc students at the time, Kyojiro Ikeda, happened to notice something peculiar at the molecular level, using electron microscopy and tomography. Looking more closely at the species known as Platynereis dumerilii, Ikeda noticed that everywhere the bristle worm had bristles, it also had a single cell known as a chaetoblast. More specifically, this chaetoblast has a protrusion that repeatedly elongates and then retracts, depositing a material known as chitin in the process of building each individual bristle. 'We sort of think of these protrusions as acting like a 3D printer,' says Raible, senior author of a study detailing the discovery in Nature Communications last year. 'Every single individual bristle is made by a single cell.' Surprisingly, Raible says there's a 'striking parallel' between the geometry of the bristle worm's chaetoblasts and the sensory cells found in the inner ear of humans and other vertebrates. And this means that in addition to teaching scientists about regeneration, the bristle worm system may be able to serve as a proxy for such cells, allowing us to study conditions like deafness (which can occur when sensory cells in the inner ear are damaged). 'So, we essentially have a new parallel between very evolutionarily distant organisms, such as us and these polychaete worms,' he says. There are more than 24,000 species of worms on this planet, and while most of us tend to only think about the ones wriggling through the garden, these tubular creatures are incredibly diverse. The giant Gippsland earthworm of Australia can grow to be nearly 10 feet long, for example, while worms in the Chaetopteridae family glow in the dark, and bloodworms are venomous devourers of flesh. 'For me, the most fascinating part is the fact that such a group of animals managed to adapt to different habitats, which caused an immense variety of organ system adaptations and changing body plans,' says Conrad Helm, a biologist at the University of Göttingen in Germany. 'So, most of them look quite bizarre and fascinating and are totally different from the picture most people have in mind when thinking of a worm.' For instance, bristle worms use their bristles to swim through open water, shuffle along the seafloor in a manner that resembles walking, and even dig tunnels. The bristles can also sometimes be equipped with hooks, stylets, and teeth, which allow the worms to secure themselves to their burrows. Interestingly, the authors were able to observe how such structures are formed in the new research, revealing that teeth are also laid down by the 3D-printing-like process as the overall bristle is formed, sort of like a conveyor belt. 'Every 30 to 40 minutes, a tooth is initiated,' says Ikeda, a cell biologist at the University of Vienna and lead author of the study. 'So, a new tooth is starting while the old one is synthesized.' All of these structures are made out of chitin, which is the second most common biopolymer on Earth, and importantly, one that is tolerated really well by the human body. This may mean that by studying polychaete bristles, scientists can develop new surgical stitches or adhesives that start out strong but are eventually absorbed into the human body. There are also plans to develop a new kind of cement for dental work, say the researchers. Helm says the new study only makes him more curious about these weird and wonderful creatures. 'It's really mind-blowing to see how nature is able to create a diversity of shapes and forms that humans are unable to replicate,' he says. 'What is groundbreaking in the new study is the fact that [the researchers] uncovered several ultrastructural and molecular details that were not known to science so far. Especially when it comes to the shaping of the bristles.' He notes that it goes to show how important it is to conduct unbiased, basic research. 'Without basic research, such biological materials or processes will never be usable for medical applications,' he says. 'The study shows that there are still many open questions.' Worms have been on this planet for more than 500 million years—which is about 100 million years before trees existed. Who knows what else these often-overlooked lifeforms have to teach us?
National Geographic
2 days ago
- Science
- National Geographic
This creature can 3D-print its own body parts
Bristle worms have protrusions that act like a 3D printer, helping us to understand how cells regenerate. The larvae of a bristle worm, saltwater worms with elaborate, hair-like structures. Photograph By C: Luis Zelaya-Lainez, Vienna University of Technology Most people will never see a bristle worm in the wild, but according to a new study, the science derived from these bristly beasts may someday benefit you or someone you know. Bristle worms—aka polychaetes— are saltwater worms with elaborate, hair-like structures; in some species, they allow the animals to paddle through the open ocean or 'walk' across the seafloor. 'One of the reasons that we're interested in bristle worms is because they're great models for regeneration biology,' says Florian Raible, a molecular biologist at the University of Vienna in Austria. 'So, they can actually regenerate most of their body, and they can do this very well compared to other systems.' While most of the lab was focusing on these regenerative superpowers, one of Raible's postdoc students at the time, Kyojiro Ikeda, happened to notice something peculiar at the molecular level, using electron microscopy and tomography. Looking more closely at the species known as Platynereis dumerilii, Ikeda noticed that everywhere the bristle worm had bristles, it also had a single cell known as a chaetoblast. More specifically, this chaetoblast has a protrusion that repeatedly elongates and then retracts, depositing a material known as chitin in the process of building each individual bristle. 'We sort of think of these protrusions as acting like a 3D printer,' says Raible, senior author of a study detailing the discovery in Nature Communications last year. 'Every single individual bristle is made by a single cell.' Surprisingly, Raible says there's a 'striking parallel' between the geometry of the bristle worm's chaetoblasts and the sensory cells found in the inner ear of humans and other vertebrates. And this means that in addition to teaching scientists about regeneration, the bristle worm system may be able to serve as a proxy for such cells, allowing us to study conditions like deafness (which can occur when sensory cells in the inner ear are damaged). 'So, we essentially have a new parallel between very evolutionarily distant organisms, such as us and these polychaete worms,' he says. There are more than 24,000 species of worms on this planet, and while most of us tend to only think about the ones wriggling through the garden, these tubular creatures are incredibly diverse. The giant Gippsland earthworm of Australia can grow to be nearly 10 feet long, for example, while worms in the Chaetopteridae family glow in the dark, and bloodworms are venomous devourers of flesh. 'For me, the most fascinating part is the fact that such a group of animals managed to adapt to different habitats, which caused an immense variety of organ system adaptations and changing body plans,' says Conrad Helm, a biologist at the University of Göttingen in Germany. 'So, most of them look quite bizarre and fascinating and are totally different from the picture most people have in mind when thinking of a worm.' For instance, bristle worms use their bristles to swim through open water, shuffle along the seafloor in a manner that resembles walking, and even dig tunnels. The bristles can also sometimes be equipped with hooks, stylets, and teeth, which allow the worms to secure themselves to their burrows. Interestingly, the authors were able to observe how such structures are formed in the new research, revealing that teeth are also laid down by the 3D-printing-like process as the overall bristle is formed, sort of like a conveyor belt. 'Every 30 to 40 minutes, a tooth is initiated,' says Ikeda, a cell biologist at the University of Vienna and lead author of the study. 'So, a new tooth is starting while the old one is synthesized.' All of these structures are made out of chitin, which is the second most common biopolymer on Earth, and importantly, one that is tolerated really well by the human body. This may mean that by studying polychaete bristles, scientists can develop new surgical stitches or adhesives that start out strong but are eventually absorbed into the human body. There are also plans to develop a new kind of cement for dental work, say the researchers. 'It's really mind-blowing' Helm says the new study only makes him more curious about these weird and wonderful creatures. 'It's really mind-blowing to see how nature is able to create a diversity of shapes and forms that humans are unable to replicate,' he says. 'What is groundbreaking in the new study is the fact that [the researchers] uncovered several ultrastructural and molecular details that were not known to science so far. Especially when it comes to the shaping of the bristles.' He notes that it goes to show how important it is to conduct unbiased, basic research. 'Without basic research, such biological materials or processes will never be usable for medical applications,' he says. 'The study shows that there are still many open questions.' Worms have been on this planet for more than 500 million years—which is about 100 million years before trees existed. Who knows what else these often-overlooked lifeforms have to teach us?
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
How Common Meds Secretly Wreck Your Patients' Microbiome?
Effective ways to combat harmful viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasitic worms have driven major advances in medicine and contributed to a significant increase in human life expectancy over the past century. However, as knowledge about the role of these microorganisms in promoting and maintaining health deepens, there is a need for a new look at the impact of these treatments. The list of drugs that can directly alter the gut microbiota is long. In addition to antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anthelmintics, proton pump inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), laxatives, oral antidiabetics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, statins, chemotherapeutics, and immunosuppressants can trigger dysbiosis. A 2020 study published in Nature Communications , which analyzed the impact of common medications on the composition and metabolic function of the gut bacteria, showed that of the 41 classes of medications. Researchers found that 19 were associated with changes in the microbiome, most notably antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, laxatives, and metformin. 'There are still no protocols aimed at preserving the microbiota during pharmacological treatment. Future research should identify biomarkers of drug-induced dysbiosis and potentially adapt live biotherapeutics to counteract it,' said Maria Júlia Segantini, MD, a certified coloproctologist and member of the Brazilian Society of Coloproctology, from the University of São Paulo. Known Facts Antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and anthelmintics eliminate pathogens but can also disrupt the microbiota across the gut, skin, mouth, lungs, and genitourinary tract. 'This ecosystem is part of the innate immune system and helps to balance inflammation and homeostasis. Loss of microbial diversity alters interspecies interactions and changes nutrient availability, which can undermine the ability to fend off pathogens,' said Segantini, noting the role of microbiota in vitamin K and B-complex production. 'The microbiome may lose its ability to prevent pathogens from taking hold. This is due to the loss of microbial diversity, changes in interactions between species, and the availability of nutrients,' she added. Antibiotics, as is well known, eliminate bacterial species indiscriminately, reduce the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and, therefore, favor the growth of opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms. However, in addition to their direct effects on microorganisms, different medications can alter the intestinal microbiota through various mechanisms linked to their specific actions. Here are some examples: Proton pump inhibitors: These can facilitate the translocation of bacteria from the mouth to the intestine and affect the metabolic functions of the intestinal microbiota. 'In users of these medications, there may be an enrichment of pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism, such as glycolysis and pyruvate metabolism, indicating possible changes in intestinal metabolism,' Segantini explained. NSAIDs: NSAIDs can modify the function and composition of the intestinal microbiota, favor the growth of pathogenic species, and reduce the diversity of preexisting bacteria by reducing the presence of beneficial commensal bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium . 'This is due to changes in the permeability of the intestinal wall, due to the inhibition of prostaglandins that help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier, enteropathy induced by NSAIDs, and drug interactions,' said Segantini. Laxatives: Accelerated intestinal transit using laxatives impairs the quality of the microbiota and alters bile acid. Osmotic agents, such as lactulose and polyethylene glycol, may decrease resistance to infection. 'Studies in animal models indicate that polyethylene glycol can increase the proportion of Bacteroides and reduce the abundance of Bacteroidales bacteria, with lasting repercussions on the intestinal microbiota. Stimulant laxatives, in addition to causing an acceleration of the evacuation flow, can lead to a decrease in the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are important for intestinal health,' Segantini explained. Chemotherapeutics: Chemotherapeutic agents can significantly influence the intestinal microbiota and affect its composition, diversity, and functionality, which in turn can affect the efficacy of treatment and the occurrence of adverse effects. '5-fluorouracil led to a decrease in the abundance of beneficial anaerobic genera, such as Blautia , and an increase in opportunistic pathogens, such as Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli , during chemotherapy. In addition, it can lead to an increase in the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria while reducing Firmicutes and Actinobacteria . These changes can affect the function of the intestinal barrier and the immune response. Other problems related to chemotherapy-induced dysbiosis are the adverse effects themselves, such as diarrhea and mucositis,' said Segantini. Statins: Animal studies suggest that treatment with statins, including atorvastatin, may alter the composition of the gut microbiota. 'These changes include the reduction of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila , and the increase in intestinal pathogens, resulting in intestinal dysbiosis. The use of statins can affect the diversity of the intestinal microbiota, although the results vary according to the type of statin and the clinical context.' 'Statins can activate intestinal nuclear receptors, such as pregnane X receptors, which modulate the expression of genes involved in bile metabolism and the inflammatory response. This activation can contribute to changes in the intestinal microbiota and associated metabolic processes. Although statins play a fundamental role in reducing cardiovascular risk, their interactions with the intestinal microbiota can influence the efficacy of treatment and the profile of adverse effects,' said Segantini. Immunosuppressants: The use of immunosuppressants, such as corticosteroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate, has been associated with changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. 'Immunosuppressant-induced dysbiosis can compromise the intestinal barrier, increase permeability, and facilitate bacterial translocation. This can result in opportunistic infections by pathogens and post-transplant complications, such as graft rejection and post-transplant diabetes,' Segantini stated. 'Alteration of the gut microbiota by immunosuppressants may influence the host's immune response. For example, tacrolimus has been associated with an increase in the abundance of Allobaculum , Bacteroides , and Lactobacillus , in addition to elevated levels of regulatory T cells in the colonic mucosa and circulation, suggesting a role in modulating gut immunity,' she said. Antipsychotics: Antipsychotics can affect gut microbiota in several ways, influencing bacterial composition and diversity, which may contribute to adverse metabolic and gastrointestinal effects. 'Olanzapine, for example, has been shown in rodent studies to increase the abundance of Firmicutes and reduce that of Bacteroidetes , resulting in a higher Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes ratio, which is associated with weight gain and dyslipidemia,' said Segantini. She stated that risperidone increased the abundance of Firmicutes and decreased that of Bacteroidetes in animal models, correlating with weight gain and reduced basal metabolic rate. 'Fecal transfer from risperidone-treated mice to naive mice resulted in decreased metabolic rate, suggesting that the gut microbiota would mediate these effects.' Treatment with aripiprazole increased microbial diversity and the abundance of Clostridium , Peptoclostridium , Intestinibacter , and Christensenellaceae , in addition to promoting increased intestinal permeability in animal models. 'Therefore, the use of these medications can lead to metabolic changes, such as weight gain, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. This is due to a decrease in the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are important for maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Another change frequently observed in clinical practice is constipation induced by these medications. This functional change can also generate changes in the intestinal microbiota,' she said. Oral antidiabetic agents: Oral antidiabetic agents influence the intestinal microbiota in different ways, depending on the therapeutic class. However, not all drug interactions in the microbiome are harmful. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria associated with metabolism. 'Exenatide, another GLP-1 agonist, has varied effects and can increase both beneficial and inflammatory bacteria,' explained Álvaro Delgado, MD, a gastroenterology specialist at Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz in São Paulo. 'In humans, an increase in bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii has been observed, with positive effects. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the clinical impacts,' he said, and that, in animal models, these changes caused by GLP-1 agonists are linked to metabolic changes, such as greater glucose tolerance. Metformin has been linked to increased abundance of A muciniphila , a beneficial bacterium that degrades mucin and produces short-chain fatty acids. 'These bacteria are associated with improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation,' he said. Segantini stated that studies in mice have shown that vildagliptin also plays a positive role in altering the composition of the intestinal microbiota, increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus and Roseburia , and reducing Oscillibacter . 'This same beneficial effect is seen with the use of sitagliptin,' she said. Studies in animal models have also indicated that empagliflozin and dapagliflozin increase the populations of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, such as Bacteroides and Odoribacter , and reduce the populations of lipopolysaccharide-producing bacteria, such as Oscillibacter . 'There are still not many studies regarding the use of sulfonylureas on the intestinal microbiota, so their action on the microbiota is still controversial,' said Segantini. Antivirals: Antiviral treatment can influence gut microbiota in complex ways, depending on the type of infection and medication used. 'Although many studies focus on the effects of viral infection on the microbiota, there is evidence that antiviral treatment can also restore the healthy composition of the microbiota, promoting additional benefits to gut and immune health,' said Segantini. In mice with chronic hepatitis B, entecavir restored the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota, which was reduced due to infection. In addition, the recovery of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia and Blautia , was observed, which was associated with the protection of the intestinal barrier and reduction of hepatic inflammation. Studies have indicated that tenofovir may aid in the recovery of intestinal dysbiosis induced by chronic hepatitis B virus infection and promote the restoration of a healthy microbial composition. 'Specifically, an increase in Collinsella and Bifidobacterium , bacteria associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids and modulation of the immune response, was observed,' said Segantini. The use of antiretrovirals, such as lopinavir and ritonavir, has been associated with changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in patients living with HIV. 'A decrease in Lachnospira , Butyricicoccus , Oscillospira , and Prevotella , bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids that are important in intestinal health and in modulating the immune response, was observed.' Antifungals: As a side effect, antifungals also eliminate commensal fungi, which 'share intestinal niches with microbiota bacteria, balancing their immunological functions. When modified, they culminate in dysbiosis, worsening of inflammatory pathologies — such as colitis and allergic diseases — and can increase bacterial translocation,' said Segantini. For example, fluconazole reduces the abundance of Candida spp . while promoting the growth of fungi such as Aspergillus , Wallemia , and Epicoccum . 'A relative increase in Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and a decrease in Bacteroidetes , Deferribacteres , Patescibacteria , and Tenericutes were also observed,' she explained. Anthelmintics: These also affect the intestinal bacterial and fungal microbiota and alter the modulation of the immune response, in addition to having specific effects depending on the type of drug used. Clinical Advice Symptoms of dysbiosis include abdominal distension, flatulence, constipation or diarrhea, pain, fatigue, and mood swings. 'The diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture, since tests such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which indicate metabolites of bacteria associated with dysbiosis, specific stool tests, and microbiota mapping with GI-MAP [Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus], for example, are expensive, difficult to access, and often inconclusive for diagnosis and for assessing the cause of the microbiota alteration,' explained Fernando Seefelder Flaquer, MD, a general practitioner and gastroenterologist at Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in São Paulo. When caused by medication, dysbiosis tends to be reversed naturally after discontinuation of the drug. 'However, in medications with a high chance of altering the microbiota, probiotics can be used as prevention,' said Flaquer. 'To avoid problems, it is important to use antibiotics with caution and prefer, when possible, those with a reduced spectrum,' advised Delgado. 'Supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics can help maintain the balance of the microbiota, but it should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as its indications are still restricted at present.' Currently, dysbiosis management relies on nutritional support and lifestyle modifications. 'Physical exercise, management of psychological changes, and use of probiotics and prebiotics. In specific cases, individualized treatment may even require the administration of some types of antibiotics,' explained Segantini. Although fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been widely discussed and increasingly studied, it should still be approached with caution. While promising, FMT remains experimental for most conditions, and its use outside research settings should be carefully considered, particularly in patients who are immunocompromised or have compromised intestinal barriers. 'Currently, the treatment has stood out as promising for cases of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection , being the only consolidated clinical indication,' said Segantini. Science Hype The interest in gut microbiome research has undoubtedly driven important scientific advances, but it also risks exaggeration. While the field holds enormous promise, much of the research remains in its early stages. 'The indiscriminate use of probiotics and reliance on microbiota analysis tests for personalized probiotic prescriptions are growing concerns,' Delgado warned. 'We need to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical application. When that translation happens, it could revolutionize care for many diseases.' Flaquer emphasized a broader issue: 'There has been an overvaluation of dysbiosis and microbiota-focused treatments as cure-alls for a wide range of conditions — often subjective or lacking solid scientific correlation — such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, cancer, and even autism.' With ongoing advances in microbiome research, understanding the impact of this complex ecosystem on human health has become essential across all medical specialties. In pediatrics, for instance, microbiota plays a critical role in immune and metabolic development, particularly in preventing conditions such as allergies and obesity. In digestive surgery, preoperative use of probiotics has been shown to reduce complications and enhance postoperative recovery. Neurological research has highlighted the gut-brain axis as a potential factor in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In gynecology, regulating the vaginal microbiota is key to preventing infections and complications during pregnancy. 'Given the connections between the microbiota and both intestinal and systemic diseases, every medical specialist should understand how it relates to the conditions they treat daily,' concluded Flaquer.
