Microbiota studies - early steps still?

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How relevant/mechanistic is the current microbiota research with a bacteriocentric view largely excluding fungi and the more predominant bacterial infective bacteriophages/viruses?

Microbiota
virome
Epigenetics
Gut Health and Development
Molecular Biology
Human Physiology
Disease
Douglas Rees
74 months ago

2 answers

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I think that in the near future fungi and viruses will be studies as well, we only need the tools. The point is that we have now the tools to study the bacteria and that´s why is the most study for now. But you are right, we need to include the interaction with viruses and fungi.

María F Lara
74 months ago
Thanks for the thoughts Maria - interestingly we also have the ITS region for the fungi, however yes, the viruses are elusive and we really need to find some form of phylogenetic marker to sequence alike other microorganisms to reveal the true contribution of the coexisting microbiota. - Douglas 74 months ago
Early steps - Needless steps - Dr. David E. 63 months ago
Why needless? - Leonardo 63 months ago
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There's some mechanistic insight already. A very clear example comes from the observation that certain microbes produce metabolites that impinge on signaling pathways in our cells. Different microbes have been found to influence the differentiation of naive T cells into different T helper subsets. Perhaps not surprisingly, differences in the microbiome are now being correlated with different responses to cancer immunotherapy. One would expect that adding fungi and viruses to these studies would add even more layers to this complex interplay between host and microbe!

Leonardo Ferreira
73 months ago
New to you! - Dr. David E. 63 months ago
What is "new" to me, David? - Leonardo 63 months ago
NONE of the above is new; maybe to laymen. - Dr. David E. 63 months ago
If none of the above is new, do we already know the main mechanisms through which the microbiome influences the outcome of immunotherapy? - Leonardo 63 months ago
YEP - Just ask a gastoenterologist; not amateurs! - Dr. David E. 63 months ago
YEP - Just ask a microbiologist; not shills! - Dr. David E. 63 months ago
YEP - Just ask an immunologist; not profiteers! - Dr. David E. 63 months ago
YEP - get the point! - Dr. David E. 63 months ago
I AM AN IMMUNOLOGIST at UCSF. I work with Jeff Bluestone, a world renowned immunologist who's also the CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. We don't comprehend the mechanisms by which the microbiome affects the response to cancer immunotherapy. Would you be so kind as to refer me to an immunologist who does, please? - Leonardo 63 months ago

Have some input?