In the second season of Gut Questions? Will and I get into the research and business of -biotics.  Will is going to cover probiotics, prebioitics, synbiotics, and postbiotics.  He'll give a brief overview of each and then we'll talk about how each is being researched and presented in the news and social media.  What comes across all of the news outlets, online or in print, and in our social media feeds can be pretty confusing and even misleading so, I thought I could get Will's expert take on what I find out there in the wilds of the internet.  

If you've gut a question(s) you would like Will to answer in an upcoming episode, email me, Parker, at [email protected] or submit a questions on the podcast website, www.yourgutquestions.com/contact

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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Episode 5, part 4 – Will talks about why the results from this study are relevant to our everyday lives.

DePaolo Lab ultimately found that the presence of omega-6 polysaturated fatty acids (arachidonic acid was used in this project) worsens inflammation when challenged with virus or bacteria. So, a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids can weaken the immune response to a viral or bacterial infection. Will and I also get into a little discussion about immunity as well as what the lab found when looking at omega-3 fatty acids using the same assays that were used to study omega-6 fatty acids.

To check out a figure showing the metabolic pathways of omega-6 and omega-3 visit our Gut Questions? podcast website and go to “Show Notes" → www.yourgutquestions.com/shownotes  

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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In the this part of the PUFA episode, Will explains the growth and virulence changes of Yersinia enterocolitica under room and body temperatures.  In essence, omega-6 fatty acids (arachidonic acid was used in this project) change the pathogenesis of the yersinia creating a more virulent bug.  Again, the the lab wanted to determine if infection rate or severity is increased when omega-6 fatty acids are in the system at room and body temperatures.  So, pay attention to the temperature talk at the beginning of this part because it is key to this project.  It's pretty fascinating.

Important numbers:

To check out a figure showing virulence factor expression of Yersinia enterocolitica at room and body temperature (paper is posted as well for anyone who really wants to deep dive into Y. enterocolitica) visit our Gut Questions? podcast website and go to “Show Notes" → https://www.yourgutquestions.com/shownotes 

If you've gut a question(s) you would like Will to answer in an upcoming episode, email me, Parker, at [email protected] or submit a questions on the podcast website, www.yourgutquestions.com/contact

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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Episode 5, part 2 - Will sets up the infection project (which was very enlightening for me).    

In part two of the PUFA episode, Will gives some fascinating detail on the bacteria of choice for this study, yersinia enterocolitica, and how exactly it goes about causing foodborne illness in humans.  Essentially, the bacteria paralyzes the immune system by injecting immune cells with a "needle" (here we go with needles again) and depositing virulence factors.  So, the question the lab wanted to answer was how omega-6 fatty acids, which are consumed in excess in the US, might affect a gut-borne diarrhea causing pathogen.

2010 yearly foodborne illness estimates (World Health Organization)

If you've gut a question(s) you want Will to answer in an upcoming podcast, shoot me an email at [email protected]

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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Episode 5, part 1 - Will lays the groundwork for talking about the PUFAs and infection project.

In the first part of this episode, Will introduces the two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) - omega-6 and omega-3.  Both types are essential to our diets but, the ratio in which they are consumed is critical.  Will talks about why the ratio of these fats is important and how gut bacteria are invovled.

Important numbers:

If you would like to read more about PUFAs or want to be reminded of the greatness of Stefon on SNL, I have posted those on the Gut Questions? podcast website under “Show Notes" → www.yourgutquestions.com/show-notes

If you've gut a question(s) you would like Will to answer in an upcoming episode, email me, Parker, at [email protected] or submit a questions on the podcast website, www.yourgutquestions.com/contact

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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In Part 1 of our first podcast episode, "Introducing Will: From Brain to Gut," I ask Will to tell me how he went from studying the brain as a Bates College student where we met as freshman to studying the gut as postdoc after a bout with bubonic plague.  While I’ve heard this story before, I picked up a few new tidbits that I wasn’t aware of before recording this episode.  For those who decided to view this 'cast on our YouTube channel, please note that as a scientist Will speaks for a living and I do not.  People have told me that I make a lot of facial expressions but, wow, I had no idea.  For those listening, you are spared.  For those watching, it is rough, and I’ll do my best to contain myself going forward.    

If you've gut a question(s) you want Will to answer in an upcoming podcast, shoot me an email at [email protected]   

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:  

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In the second part of this episode, Will and I talk about a bunch of stuff:

• How nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reported on / presented in the news and social media

This episode is actually a peek into how our conversations go in general, that is, in and out of the lab: I ask a ton of questions, often seemingly random, and Will answers them, and always understands where I’m going with my seemingly random questions.

If you would like to learn more about the gut-brain connection or are just curious about the Pizza Bagel jingle I reference, I have provided some resources in our show notes. Check them out at the Gut Questions? podcast website under “Show Notes" → www.yourgutquestions.com/show-notes

If you would like to learn more about this project, the subsequent publication from this project is posted on the Gut Questions? podcast website under “Show Notes" → www.yourgutquestions.com/show-notes

If you've gut a question(s) you would like Will to answer in an upcoming episode, email me, Parker, at [email protected] or submit a questions on the podcast website, www.yourgutquestions.com/contact

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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In the first part of this episode, Will talks about investigating nonalcoholic fatty disease (NAFLD) with Tania Mitsinikos, MD, who at the time, was a clinical fellow with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the Department of Gastroenterology.  Currently, Dr. Mitsinikos is an attending physician is Director of the Fatty Liver Clinic.  In this study, Will and Tania wanted to first, test the effect of diet intervention and second, the microbiome associated with those different diets.  Essentially, they were asking these questions:

1) Can different types of diets reverse NAFLD?

If you would like to learn more about this project, the subsequent publication from this project is posted on the Gut Questions? podcast website under “Show Notes" → www.yourgutquestions.com/show-notes

If you've gut a question(s) you would like Will to answer in an upcoming episode, email me, Parker, at [email protected] or submit a questions on the podcast website, www.yourgutquestions.com/contact

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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#microbiome

In the second part of this episode, Will and I talk about a bunch of stuff:  

• How nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reported on / presented in the news and social media

This episode is actually a peek into how our conversations go in general, that is, in and out of the lab: I ask a ton of questions, often seemingly random, and Will answers them, and always understands where I’m going with my seemingly random questions.         

If you would like to learn more about this project, the subsequent publication from this project is posted on the Gut Questions? podcast website under “Show Notes" → www.yourgutquestions.com/show-notes

If you've gut a question(s) you want Will to answer in an upcoming podcast, shoot me an email at [email protected]

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:

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In this short episode I ask Will just what exactly people are talking about when they say “The” microbiome.  Do they mean the gut microbiome?  Will defines what the microbiome is and what it is not and we also talk a little about the expanse of the gut microbiome.    

If you would like to learn more about the gut microbiome and its impact on general health and wellness, Autism, and PTSD, I have provided some resources in our show notes.  Check them out at the Gut Questions? podcast website under “Show Notes" → www.yourgutquestions.com/show-notes 

If you've gut a question(s) you want Will to answer in an upcoming podcast, shoot me an email at [email protected]   

A bunch of our websites and social media platforms:  

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#microbiome