Bacterial Supplements -- Best Frenemies?

Event Center BC

Microbiota in the gut have a symbiotic relationship with their host organisms. Some aid in digestion and the breakdown of nutrients and others can help regulate intestinal physiology. However, others may not be as beneficial and feed on the epithelial lining of the gut, which can lead to inflammation. This field of study is relatively new and the effects of microbiota are not fully understood. Therefore, previous studies have worked on measuring diversity within the microbiome, ratios of different species, and interspecies interactions. In Drosophila, previous studies have shown a relatively low diversity in the fruit fly’s gut. In order to further current understanding, it was necessary to use probiotic cultures to alter bacterial ratios to surmise the effects various species may have on overall health.