Artificial intestine helps fight bad gut bacteria
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cornell professor John March is attempting to transform bacteria in our gut into disease-fighting machines. Now, thanks to two members of his research team, he has a powerful new tool...
View ArticleScientists crack sparse genome of microbe linked to autoimmunity
Scientists have deciphered the genome of a bacterium implicated as a key player in regulating the immune system of mice. The genomic analysis provides the first glimpse of its unusually sparse genetic...
View ArticleLiver parasite lacks key genes for fatty acid synthesis: Genome sequencing of...
The human liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis affects more than 35 million people in South East Asia and 15 million in China. Infection by this parasite causes clonorchiasis. Repeated or chronic infection...
View ArticleFruit fly intestine may hold secret to the fountain of youth
One of the few reliable ways to extend an organism's lifespan, be it a fruit fly or a mouse, is to restrict calorie intake. Now, a new study in fruit flies is helping to explain why such minimal diets...
View ArticleFish may provide key to stopping disease spread, researcher says
A small fish may prove useful to understanding a worldwide health problem, if a Wayne State University researcher is correct.
View ArticleStudying fish to learn about fat
In mammals, most lipids (such as fatty acids and cholesterol) are absorbed into the body via the small intestine. The complexity of the cells and fluids that inhabit this organ make it very difficult...
View ArticleVitamins may hitch a protected ride on corn starch
(Medical Xpress) -- Vitamins and medications may one day take rides on starch compounds creating stable vitamin-enriched ingredients and cheaper controlled-release drugs, according to Penn State food...
View ArticleTriple threat: One bacterium, three plasmids
Researchers from Australia found something completely new while conducting a genetic study of the pathogenesis of an enteric disease in birds. They report what is believed to be the first bacterial...
View ArticleResearchers discover a compound that controls Listeria
In a year when cantaloupe tainted with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes killed 30 people, the discovery of a compound that controls this deadly bacteria -- and possibly others -- is great news.
View ArticleNo clear evidence that celiac disease increasing because farmers growing...
No clear evidence exists to support the idea that celiac disease is increasing in prevalence because farmers are growing strains of wheat that contain more gluten. That's the conclusion of an article...
View ArticleOrange flour for gluten-free bread
During the processing of fruit and vegetables one third is discarded as 'waste'. The waste or by-product can be described as the core, pips and peel of the fruit or vegetable. This waste can be costly...
View ArticleResearchers create tomatoes that mimic actions of good cholesterol
UCLA researchers have genetically engineered tomatoes to produce a peptide that mimics the actions of good cholesterol when consumed.
View ArticleFor the first time, researchers isolate adult stem cells from human...
For the first time, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have isolated adult stem cells from human intestinal tissue.
View ArticleChickens with bigger gizzards are more efficient
According to animal scientists, farmers could further protect the environment by breeding chickens with larger digestive organs. This research, published in the February issue of the Journal of Animal...
View ArticlePolymers could help enzymes treat diseases
(Phys.org) —Conditions such as celiac disease, phenylketonuria, lactose intolerance and exocrine pancreatic disease involve abnormal enzyme activity. Enzymes administered orally could help sufferers....
View ArticlePolymer coatings a key step toward oral delivery of protein-based drugs
(Phys.org) —In a new study, a "bioadhesive" coating developed at Brown University significantly improved the intestinal absorption into the bloodstream of nanoparticles that someday could carry protein...
View ArticleFruit fly midguts provide human abdomen acumen
(Phys.org) —Nicolas Buchon, associate professor of entomology, is giving the fruit fly research community a lot to digest: a detailed molecular and anatomical atlas of the fruit fly digestive tract....
View ArticleNovel polymer helps oral medications reach the bloodstream
All too often, when a person takes a pill full of a potent and effective drug, the drug passes straight through the body, not reaching the organ where it is needed—a waste of money and inconvenient if...
View Article'Nanojuice' could improve how doctors examine the gut
Located deep in the human gut, the small intestine is not easy to examine. X-rays, MRIs and ultrasound images provide snapshots but each suffers limitations. Help is on the way.
View ArticleGene sequencing refines threatening parasite list
Twenty-six species of Cryptosporidium have been recognised and 18 species declared non-valid in a recent shake-up of the parasite's taxonomy using DNA sequencing techniques.
View ArticleHow E. coli passes safely through stomach acid
In some parts of the world, many small children become infected with severe diarrhea which often proves fatal. The condition is usually caused by strains of Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli)...
View ArticleSmall doses of resistant starch encourage the growth of beneficial gut fauna
Consuming even modest amounts of resistant starch can lend a significant punch to the gut microbes that benefit human health, according to a new study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln food scientists.
View ArticleResearchers gain better understanding of cellular intestinal barrier structure
(Phys.org)—A team of researches affiliated with several institutions in Japan has conducted research into the cellular structure of tight junctions in the small intestine, and has made progress in...
View ArticleHow the Burmese python grows and shrinks after it eats
The Burmese python's body undergoes massive reconstruction followed by complete deconstruction every time it eats. Within three days of eating, its organs expand up to double in size and its metabolism...
View Article'Smart capsule' is potential new drug-delivery vehicle
A new "smart capsule" under development could deliver medications directly to the large intestines to target certain medical conditions.
View ArticleMicroRNAs are digested, not absorbed
There has been a lot of controversy in recent years over the issue of whether exogenous microRNA molecules can be absorbed from food and even have a physiological effect. A new study by ETH professor...
View ArticleGut microbiota regulates antioxidant metabolism
A recently published study shows that gut microbiota regulates the glutathione and amino acid metabolism of the host. Glutathione is a key antioxidant, found in every cell in our body. Deficiency of...
View ArticleBest tactical approach to handling patients with simultaneous parasitic and...
One of the most common waterborne diseases worldwide is cryptosporidiosis, a parasitic disease affecting the small intestine and possibly our airways. It is a common cause of diarrhoea in HIV-positive...
View ArticleWhere is fiber fermented in the pig digestive tract?
Fiber is increasingly being added to pig diets, but digestion of fiber in pigs is inefficient and poorly understood. In a new study from the University of Illinois, scientists pinpoint the locations...
View ArticleA milk protein could be used to give foods cancer-fighting, immune-boosting...
Scientists from A*STAR have developed a system to transport a functional protein to the tissues of the digestive tract where it may confer a range of health benefits. This overcomes previous obstacles...
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