We’ve been told for years that our body is composed of cells, human cells. We’ve also heard about the ‘good’ bacteria that inhabit our bodies and help us digest different types of food and can even provide us essential vitamins and nutrients. Most of this occurs in the small intestine where our food starts to become our poop. Pardon the pun, but what we’ve been told is grossly underestimated. First, they outnumber our cells…by a lot (10 to 1). That doesn’t include the overwhelming majority of genetic material in or on our bodies that is not ours (see infographic here).
More and more evidence is being presented showing the intimate relationship between man and his flora. First, these little guys provide more than just vitamins including some B vitamins and K. They also are able to absorb essential minerals, like calcium and iron, from our food for us to use later. They also provide a physical barrier to defend against infection from pathogens that may enter your digestive tract.
Another study indicates small molecules secreted by bacteria can prevent inflammatory bowel (here).
One study found by eating probiotic yogurt, women had lower occurrence of depression (here).
These are just a few, picked examples establishing a relationship between bacteria, or the types of bacteria, in our guts and our health. What about examples?
Autism and gut bacteria
Research now suggests a link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and environmental factors. These may include a number of factors, but what about gut bacteria?
A recent article in PLoS ONE shows a significant decrease in GI bacterial diversity among autistic subjects compared to normal subjects. Some common bacterial genera were missing in autistic subjects, especially Prevotella. The missing bacteria were common carbohydrate-degrading species or fermenters. This, and other, evidence could explain the common GI irritability in autistic children. There is also some reports of changes in diet (gluten-free, caseine-free) lessening the effects of autistic symptoms.
It is still early, and much more needs to be studied. However, you shouldn’t think of yourself as a single entity. You and your bugs are a package deal.
- When do we become microbe-beings? (yourmicrobiome.wordpress.com)
- Simplistic view of bacteria in your intestine: a first draft illustration (mhrussel.wordpress.com)
- Our Gut is our ‘Second Brain’: It Affects Mood and Health More than You Know (naturalsociety.com)
- Autism May Start In The Gut, Study Finds (huffingtonpost.com)
- How Gut Bacteria May Cause Cancer in Obese Individuals (blogs.kqed.org)
- The mission (yourmicrobiome.wordpress.com)
- Fermented Foods: Feeding Your Second Brain (survivalsherpa.wordpress.com)
- Clues about autism may come from the gut (eurekalert.org)
- Reduced Incidence of Prevotella and Other Fermenters in Intestinal Microflora of Autistic Children (plosone.org)
- Bacteria; They’re not only for biofuel anymore. Unsung heroes for bioplastics (mhrussel.wordpress.com)
- The Good Bacteria and Autism (talkingtoanonymous.wordpress.com)
- Autism and Gut Problems (lumenashouse.wordpress.com)
- First full genome sequencing for autism: Promise for future diagnosis, prevention and treatment (mhrussel.wordpress.com)
- Is autism linked to gut bacteria? (mhrussel.wordpress.com)
I spend a lot of time on this blog illustrating and promoting the benefits of the things we can’t see, however, we can’t live without and finding new ways they can help us out. To focus on bacteria along for now, they are beneficial overwhelmingly more than they are hazardous. Lots of research is going into utilizing them in new arenas from ethanol to diesel and jet fuels.
Helping solve the forthcoming energy/climate crisis is not the only area these guys can help. Lots of bacteria, under certain environmental conditions, can and will produce huge internal polymers as carbon stores, especially when nitrogen supplies are limited. Think of this polymer like starch in plants and glycogen in mammals. Research is still ongoing into the mechanisms that regulate polymer synthesis and degradation.
The bacterial polymer is special, unlike the molecular make-up of starch or glycogen, this polymer is a class of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).
One of the most prevalent forms of PHA is polyhydroxybutyrate, or PHB. Speaking from experience, PHB is an interesting macromolecule to study and observe under the microscope with cells treated with a fluorescent dye that stains PHB. PHB can account for up to 75% of the total cell weight. PHB, and PHAs in general, can be used to make plastic thus replacing the need for petroleum based plastics.
- Bacteria from Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia conceal bioplastic (eurekalert.org)
- SE Synthetic Fiber Post Serial : Polyester (nityauniforms.wordpress.com)
- Biobased market studies galore! (greenchemicalsblog.com)