Health

Innovative sampling device has significant potential for gut microbiome research

According to speakers at the High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Technologies (HPLC 2023) conference in Düsseldorf, Germany this week, studying the gut microbiome is an important way to improve human health worldwide. A compound can be illuminated (1).

Oliver Feen of the University of California reported on data collected using an ingestible sampling device that can collect upper intestinal lumen contents during routine daily digestion.

The study involved 15 healthy people who swallowed capsules after lunch and after dinner on two consecutive days, after which samples were taken. The research team used metabolomics and his 16S rRNA sequencing technology to analyze 274 intestinal samples and 60 corresponding stool homogenates.

Notably, by combining data from three LC-MS/MS assays, the researchers identified 1,909 metabolites, including previously unknown compounds, sulfonolipids, and novel bile acids. bottom. This finding revealed striking differences between the stool metabolome and intestinal samples, highlighting the importance of directly studying the small intestine. The research team asked study participants to log their meals, and found that alcohol and dessert consumption significantly altered the metabolome.

The researchers observed that essential nutrients and dietary lipids decreased along the intestinal tract, while other diet-related metabolites increased. In particular, bile acids showed both expected and novel variations, providing valuable insight into the role of bile acids in gut health.

Furthermore, this study highlighted the impact of antibiotic treatment on the intestinal metabolome. Subjects treated with antibiotics up to 6 months prior to sampling showed markedly different metabolomic patterns, highlighting the long-lasting effects of antibiotics on the gut.

This groundbreaking study not only improved our understanding of the human gut metabolome, but also revealed subject-specific chemical phenotypes in the gut. The results of this study have immense potential to advance personalized medicine and provide new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

The development of a noninvasive sampling device marks an important milestone in the field of gut microbiome and metabolome research. As further research builds on these findings, the researchers are inviting collaborations with other teams, including working toward a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between the human body and its resident microbes. measures have been taken, Feen said (he advised interested collaborators to get in touch) paves the way for innovative interventions and treatments to promote gut health.

reference

(1) Fiehn O. Space Odyssey 2023: Exploring Temporal and Regional Metabolomes. Presentation venue: HPLC 2023, June 18-22, 2023, Düsseldorf, Germany. KN06.

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Innovative sampling device has significant potential for gut microbiome research

reference