Microbiota diseases

The Human Microbiology Institute  is delighted to introduce our new theory of “Microbiota Diseases”. The term “Microbiota Diseases” reflects the primary and crucial role of microbiota-related disorders in certain host organism pathologies.

Causative agents that can lead to the development of Microbiota Diseases include bacteriophages that solely target the microbiota.

HMI research indicates that Microbiota Diseases lead to pathologies in the macroorganism, including increased intestinal permeability and leaky gut- associated pathologies.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction or disruption of the intestinal barrier, known as “leaky gut”  syndrome, is characterized by increased transcellular permeability or increased permeability of the tight junctions to macromolecules. This abnormally permeable mucosal barrier is associated with various disease pathologies, including:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Amyotrophic lateral diseases
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Schizophrenia
  • Autism
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Cancers
  • Cardiovascular disorders
  • Rheumatoid arthiritis
  • Liver and kidney failure

Thus, “Microbiota Diseases” associated with leaky gut might be contagious. If true, this finding implies that other human diseases associated with Microbiota Diseases, including but not limited to those triggered and/or promoted by leaky intestines, may also be contagious and could be contracted via environmental or community exposure to certain bacteriophages.

BREAKTHROUGH HIGHLIGHTS OF MICROBIOTA DISEASES

  • MICROBIOTA DISEASES – new causes of diseases that were previously not considered contagious (neurodegenerative diseases, schizophrenia, autism, and cancers)
  • MICROBIOTA DISEASES – might comprise a new group of human diseases
  • MICROBIOTA DISEASES – comprise novel therapeutic targets.
  • MICROBIOTA DISEASES – lead to increased intestinal permeability

 

READ MORE

We try to make our data available to the whole scientific community. The HMI welcomes collaborative studies to unravel the pathogenesis of human diseases associated with the microbiota. However, we ask that you respect the rights of first publication and cite our work as follows:

Bacteriophages as potential new mammalian pathogens.

Scientific Reports (2017)

Bacteriophages as potential new mammalian pathogens

 

Publication Type Journal Article
Authors George V. Tetz

Kelly V. Ruggles

Hua Zhou

Adriana Heguy

Aristotelis Tsirigos

Victor Tetz

 

Abstract Increased intestinal permeability and translocation of gut bacteria trigger various polyaetiological diseases associated with chronic inflammation and underlie a variety of poorly treatable pathologies. Previous studies have established a primary role of the microbiota composition and intestinal permeability in such pathologies. Using a rat model, we examined the effects of exposure to a bacteriophage cocktail on intestinal permeability and relative abundance of taxonomic units in the gut bacterial community. There was an increase in markers of impaired gut permeability, such as the lactulose/mannitol ratio, plasma endotoxin concentrations, and serum levels of inflammation-related cytokines, following the bacteriophage challenge. We observed significant differences in the alpha diversity of faecal bacterial species and found that richness and diversity index values increased following the bacteriophage challenge. There was a reduction in the abundance of Blautia, Catenibacterium, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium species and an increase in Butyrivibrio,Oscillospira and Ruminococcus after bacteriophage administration. These findings provide novel insights into the role of bacteriophages as potentially pathogenic for mammals and their possible implication in the development of diseases associated with increased intestinal permeability.
Year of Publication 2017
Journal Scientific Reports
DOI 10.10038/s41598-017-07278-6.

Bacteriophage infections of microbiota can lead to leaky gut in an experimental rodent model.

Gut pathogens (2016)

Bacteriophage infections of microbiota can lead to leaky gut in an experimental rodent model.

Publication Type Journal Article
Authors George Tetz

Victor Tetz

Abstract Increased intestinal permeability and translocation of gut microbiota from the intestinal lumen to the systemic circulation predispose patients to various diseases and may be one of the main triggers thereof. The role of microbiota in increased intestinal permeability is under intensive investigation. Here, we studied alterations in the host and increased intestinal permeability as a direct effect of treatment with a bacteriophage cocktail. After 10 days of challenge, the rats showed weight loss, messy hair, and decreased activity. Additionally, they displayed a significantly elevated lactulose:mannitol ratio and the level of circulating immune complexes. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time that increased intestinal permeability may be induced by bacteriophages that affect the microbiota.
Year of Publication 2016
Journal Gut pathogens
DOI 10.1186/s13099-016-0109-1