There is good evidence that the complex microbial flora present in the gastrointestinal tract of all warm-blooded animals is effective in providing resistance to disease. However, the composition of this protective flora can be altered by dietary and environmental influences, making the host animal susceptible to disease and/or reducing its efficiency of food utilization. What we are doing with...

Segmented filamentous bacteria (SFBs) are apathogenic autochthonous bacteria in the murine small intestine that preferentially attach to Peyer's patch epithelium. SFBs have never been cultured in vitro. We have studied the effects of SFBs on the immune system of the host. Mice monoassociated with SFBs were compared with germ-free mice and with mice without SFBs but with a specific-pathogen-free...

The impressive variety of reactions that can be performed by the gut flora on both exogenous and endogenously-produced compounds justifies its status as a major site of metabolism, comparable to the liver (Drasar et al. 1970; Scheline, 1973; Walker, 1973; Drasar & Hill, 1974). Furthermore, one might expect that the capacity of the flora to adapt to metabolic pressure by altering its component o...

Obesity is a pandemic which has been rapidly developing for three decades. When a population is submitted to the same nutritional stress, some individuals are less susceptible to diet-induced weight gain and hyperglycemia. This observation suggests that other mechanisms are involved which are not directly related to the human genome. The human gut contains an immense number of microorganisms, c...

objective the standard of hygiene in daily life and hospitals can be increased by the use of new antimicrobial fibers, which diminish the danger of pathogenic bacteria. in this study, the antimicrobial effect of special fibers on some staphylococcus isolates was investigated. materials and methods the antimicrobial effect of special type of fibers produced in isfahan poly acryl plant on three s...

abstract probiotic products highly affect the health of consumers by reducing the risk of heart attacks and improving of desirable microflora in intestinal tract. in this study the effect of yogurt (500g/d for 3 wk) enriched with either bifidobacterium bifidum or lactobacillus acidophilus on the level of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (ldl) and high density lipoprotein (hdl) of serum and ...

this is the first report about adverse inhibitory effect of v-guard and e-guard gasoline additives against soil beneficial streptomyces. v-guard and e-guard gasoline additives are anti valve seat recession agents used in unleaded gas for old car engines in iran. they contaminate soil and groundwater by fuel leaks and spills. streptomyces are of the major contributors to the biological buffering...

The human bowel is host to a diverse group of bacteria with over 500 different bacterial species contributing to this diversity. Until recently these bacteria were regarded as residents without any specific functions. The last two decades have seen a radical change in our understanding of the interactions between the gut flora and their eukaryotic hosts and there is a growing appreciation of th...

There's evidence to suggest that probiotics, prebiotics, and a high-fiber diet can help mange various illnesses. Here's how to translate gut flora research into practice.