An international team of researchers led by Harvard Medical School have discovered that the billions of bacteria lining our GI tracts have coevolved with us.
These bacteria, which are essential for a healthy immune system, are ultimately our evolutionary partners.
“For every cell in your body that is you, that contains your specific genetic information, there are approximately nine foreign bacterial cells, primarily in your digestive tract and even on your skin,” said Dennis Kasper, Harvard Medical School professor of microbiology and immunobiology and senior author on the paper. “From the viewpoint of cell count, every human being is ninety percent microbial. Now we’ve found that these bacteria, which we need for optimal health, are species specific.”
More Probiotics or Friendly Bacteria
This study, the first to demonstrate that microbes are specific to their host species, also sheds light on the hygiene hypothesis.
According to this idea, living in increasingly hyper-hygienic environments might contribute to recent spikes in childhood allergies, as these beneficial host specific microbes are hindered by antibacterial home products and cleaning chemicals.
“This raises serious questions regarding our current overuse of antibiotics, as well as ultra-hygienic environments that many of us live in,” said Kasper. “If the bacteria within us is specific to us and necessary for normal immune system function, then it’s important to know if we are in fact losing these vital bacteria. Are we losing the bacteria we have coevolved with? If that is the case, then this is yet further evidence supporting the idea that the loss of good bacteria is partly to blame for the increased rates of autoimmunity that we are now seeing.”
Read Stress Interferes with Intestinal Bacteria
Reference:
Cell. 2012 Jun 22;149(7):1578-93. “Gut immune maturation depends on colonization with a host-specific microbiota.” Chung H, Pamp SJ, Hill JA, Surana NK, Edelman SM, Troy EB, Reading NC, Villablanca EJ, Wang S, Mora JR, Umesaki Y, Mathis D, Benoist C, Relman DA, Kasper DL. Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School.
This work was funded by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, the Danish Council for Independent Research, the National Institutes of Health, and by an NIH Director’s Pioneer Award.
What can I do to restore intestinal bacteria lost through repeated doses of antibiotics and a high level of stress?
For decades I was subject to high levels of job stress. This resulted in psoriasis, a duodenal ulcer, and finally type 2 diabetes.
My problem began with an external, ear infection and taking an antibiotic called Ceftin. My system (gut) could not function as all the Good bacteria diminished and all the BAD bacteria remained, and caused by Ceftin as analyzed in a stool sample. My Medical Doc advised me to see the U.Cincinnati Med Ctr in Westchester, Oh. No antibiotics were given to me. They recommended an OTC capsule called Florastor. It is a yeast that balances the intestinal flora and keeps the intestines functioning well and promotes intestinal health as noted on the package. It was a God-send for me. U.C’s advise to me after I stablized and back to normal-even tho not everthing is known (thru studies) about Florastor they advised keep taking it(some patients said they will always take it because of their comfort/secure level with Florastor) and others who experiment with it to determine what is a sufficient dosage level for them for balancing their system as well as those who feel 100% and don’t need the Florastor at that time.
Bob G.