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Human microbiome, intestinal bacteria. [Artur Plawgo/Getty Images] Disturbances to the gut microbiome contribute to health conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To better understand how those microbes interact with each other and their environment, scientists from the University of California, San Diego have developed a new tool called coralME that creates detailed genome-scale computational models of metabolism and gene and protein expression. Full details are provided in a new Cell Systems paper titled “Metabolism and gene expression models for the microbiome reveal how diet and metabolic dysbiosis impact disease.”  According to the developers, the so-called ME-models link a microbe’s genome…

Bacteria in the gut secrete a toxin that kills macrophages residing in the gut, driving ulcerative colitis.Image credit:© iStock.com, Panuwat DangsungnoenMillions of people worldwide suffer from ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers in the colon. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, bleeding with stools, and fever, accounting for a quarter-million hospital visits annually in the US.1 Despite this, scientists do not fully understand the biology of the disease. Now, a team of researchers led by Fangyu Wang, Xuena Zhang, and Minsheng Zhu at Nanjing University found that a toxin-secreting gut bacterium kills protective immune cells in…

This one-pan pasta with creamy Asiago sauce is quick and easy for busy weeknights and ready to impress guests.Whole-wheat spaghetti and Brussels sprouts make this dish a tasty way to get your fiber.You can microwave the Brussels sprouts. However, cooking them in a skillet with aromatics significantly enhances their flavor. This Creamy Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts is quick and easy for busy weeknights, yet also sophisticated enough for weekend guests. Fiber-rich whole-wheat spaghetti becomes infused with the earthy flavors of the vegetable stock it’s cooked in. The rich, creamy Asiago cheese sauce clings to the noodles and antioxidant-rich Brussels sprouts,…

New rules that force general practices in England to accept online queries from patients during core working hours are already risking harm to patients and increasing GPs’ workload and stress, a survey indicates.More than half (55%) of general practices polled in a BMA survey said online consultations were having a negative effect on patient care.Some 1341 practices responded to the survey, around 22% of England’s total number. Together, those practices represent almost 14 million registered patients.The Department of Health and Social Care dismissed the data, saying the survey involved a “small minority of GP practices” and did not reflect the…

Credit: wildpixel/Getty Images Scientists have identified a species of bacteria that may drive the progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) by producing a toxin that kills immune cells essential to maintain the lining of the intestine healthy. This research could open the door to new diagnostics and therapeutic approaches against a disease that is notoriously difficult to treat.  “Our findings highlight how microbes may contribute to UC pathogenesis and suggest that targeting bacterial virulence factors could be a therapeutic strategy,” write the authors of the study, published today in Science.  Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that…

Credit: Suriya Silsaksom/AlamyPigeons can sense Earth’s magnetic field by detecting tiny electrical currents in their inner ears, researchers suggest. Such an inner compass could help to explain how certain animals can achieve astonishing feats of long-distance navigation.The team performed advanced brain mapping as well single-cell RNA sequencing of pigeon inner-ear cells. Both lines of evidence point to the inner ear as the birds’ ‘magnetoreception’ organ. The results appeared in the Science on 20 November 1.“This is probably the clearest demonstration of the neural pathways responsible for magnetic processing in any animal,” says Eric Warrant, a sensory biology researcher at the…

Forget counting sheep: It turns out that self-pleasure is one of the most effective methods for helping you drift off. Masturbation before bed is a healthy practice shown to improve your sleep quality, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and even enhance your body image.Sex and Sleep“Sex and sleep are essential components of well-being,” says sex educator and psychotherapist Sarah Kelleher, CHSE, LCSW.A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research examined diary entries from 256 men and women. Researchers found that masturbation and sex accompanied by orgasm helped people fall asleep faster and improved the quality of their sleep, regardless…

Sautéing brings out green beans’ flavor while keeping them crisp and vibrant.Blanching first preserves color and texture, but it’s optional for busy cooks.A hot pan and good oil are the keys to quick, flavorful green beans at home. Green beans can shine whether they’re served in a summery salad, quick-pickled with herbs and garlic or baked into a Thanksgiving casserole. These versatile veggies are packed with fiber, plus vitamins and other micronutrients that can promote health. We asked professional chefs across the U.S. about their favorite ways to cook green beans—and their answers have us thinking differently about how this…

A brain–computer interface developed by neurotechnology firm Paradromics contains electrodes that record from neurons in the cerebral cortex and then convert the information into intended speech patterns.Credit: ParadromicsParadromics, a neurotechnology developer, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a first long-term clinical trial of its brain–computer interface (BCI). Early next year, the company — one of the closet rivals to Elon Musk’s neurotechnology firm Neuralink — will implant its device in two volunteers who were left unable to speak owing to neurological diseases. It has two goals: to ensure the device is safe; and to…

According to Grand View Research, the global microbiome supplement market was estimated at around $9.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow significantly in coming years, partly due to investment by companies like Nestlé, Danone, Bayer AG and Procter & Gamble that have either developed their own products or acquired microbiome-based brands. Consumer awareness of digestive health has also propelled the market forward, as well as interest in the gut microbiome’s role in overall health.Irrespective of industry success, how easy is it for companies—from startups to more established firms—to get financing to either develop microbiome-based supplements or even to…