Karen Pendergrass, Standards Team

This review discusses the increasingly recognized role of the human microbiome in health and disease, particularly focusing on its implications for erectile dysfunction (D). The review highlights several key points:Evidence Linking Microbiome to D Risk Factors: There is compelling evidence associating the gut microbiome with conditions known to contribute to D, including diabetes, hypertension, metabolic […]

What was studied?The study investigated the causal relationship between gut microbiota and the risk of erectile dysfunction (D) using a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach based on genetic data from large WAS studies. Who was studied?Genetic data were analyzed from 223,805 participants in Europe for D and 18,340 participants from 24 cohorts for gut microbiota. What were the […]

What was studied?The study utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (R) approach to assess the causal effects of gut microbiota on the risk of erectile dysfunction (D). It analyzed the associations between specific gut microbiota and D using genome-wide association study (WAS) data.Who was studied?The study analyzed genetic and microbiota data from large cohorts, including 18,340 […]

This study confirms a bidirectional causal relationship between Graves’ Disease and the gut microbiome. Key taxa like Deltaproteobacteria elevate D risk, while others, such as Anaerostipes, are protective. These findings advance our understanding of the thyroid-gut axis and suggest microbiome-targeted interventions for D.

What Was This review investigates the hypothesis that severe anemia contributes to the elevated risk of invasive bacterial infections in African children through dysregulation of iron homeostasis, including the disruption of hepcidin—a hepatic hormone that governs iron availability in the body. The authors synthesize evidence from epidemiological, mechanistic, and experimental studies, proposing that the interplay […]

What was studied? The study assessed thyroid function and oxidative stress in foundry workers occupationally exposed to lead (Pb) dust and fumes. It investigated the correlation between blood lead levels (LL) and thyroid hormones, as well as markers of oxidative stress.Who was studied? The study involved 59 adult male foundry workers exposed to lead and […]

What was studied?The study investigated the gut microbial composition in patients with Graves’ disease (D) compared to healthy controls. Who was studied?The study involved 27 D patients and 11 healthy controls, with fecal samples collected for analysis. What were the most important findings?The association between gut microbiota and host homeostasis is pivotal for understanding various diseases, including […]

What was studied?The study investigated the association between calcium-phosphorus balance and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (IS) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cross-sectional studies. Who was studied?The meta-analysis included a total of 646 IS cases and 791 controls, comprising adolescents from various countries, with a focus on sex and menstruation status for subgroup analysis. What […]

What was studied?The study investigated the causal effects of gut microbiota on scoliosis using a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (R) approach. Specifically, it aimed to determine whether variations in the composition of gut microbiome taxa could influence the risk of developing scoliosis. The study utilized genetic variants as instrumental variables (Vs) from a large genome-wide […]

Postbiotics are bioactive compounds produced by probiotic bacteria during fermentation, offering health benefits without containing live microorganisms.

“Idiopathic” is a term used in medicine to describe a disease or condition that arises spontaneously or for which the cause is unknown.

Scoliosis, a spinal curvature over 10°, is influenced by gut microbiome variations, affecting spinal, respiratory, and cardiovascular health.

Cholestyramine, a polymer resin, binds bile acids, toxins, and heavy metals, reducing cholesterol and fat absorption, while altering gut microbiome and aiding detoxification.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (BOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood and delivered to tissues.

Estrogen is a steroid hormone primarily found in women, crucial for reproductive health, secondary sexual characteristics, and various physiological processes. It regulates menstrual cycles, supports pregnancy, and influences bone density and cardiovascular health. Dysregulation of estrogen levels can lead to various disorders and health complications.

A TOP (Suggested Termination Of Practices) is a recommendation that advocates for the discontinuation of certain medical interventions, treatments, or practices based on emerging evidence indicating that these may be ineffective, harmful, or counterproductive in the management of specific conditions.

β-glucuronidase in the gut microbiome breaks down metabolites, drugs, and hormone conjugates like estrogen, aiding microbial energy use and nutrient cycling. Its activity influences drug efficacy and hormone levels, maintaining estrogen balance and impacting health. Disruption in this process can lead to estrogen-related diseases, such as gynecological cancers and menopausal syndrome, and increase colorectal cancer risks by reactivating carcinogens, highlighting its pivotal role in linking microbial actions to host physiological processes.

Gallium is studied for its unique antimicrobial and anticancer properties. It inhibits metalloproteinases, disrupts bacterial iron metabolism, and may enhance antibiotic efficacy, particularly against resistant strains. Gallium compounds show potential as non-traditional therapeutic agents in treating infections and inhibiting cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (MT) involves transferring fecal bacteria from a healthy donor to a patient to restore microbiome balance.

Vaginal Microbiome Transplant (MT) involves transferring healthy vaginal flora from a donor to a recipient to treat conditions like recurrent bacterial vaginosis. It aims to restore balance in the vaginal microbiome, potentially offering a non-pharmacological treatment option for persistent gynecological disorders.

Transvaginal photobiomodulation (VPBM) is an emerging therapeutic modality that uses light therapy to address various gynecological and pelvic health issues. This treatment is noninvasive and uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cellular functions, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.

Lipopolysaccharide (PS), a potent endotoxin present in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that causes chronic immune responses associated with inflammation.

Metabolomic signatures are unique metabolite patterns linked to specific biological conditions, identified through metabolomics. They reveal underlying biochemical activities, aiding in disease diagnosis, biomarker development, and personalized medicine. The microbiome significantly affects these signatures, influencing health and disease outcomes through metabolic interactions.

The estrobolome is a group of gut bacteria that metabolize estrogen, impacting its levels and effects in the body. By modulating estrogen reabsorption and excretion, the estrobolome influences hormonal balance and risks of estrogen-related conditions, making it a target for therapeutic interventions.

The Genetic and Epigenetic Theory of Disease posits that genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications, influenced by environment and lifestyle, impact gene function and disease development, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential personalized treatments.

The Microbiome Theory posits that gut balance promotes health, while imbalances (dysbiosis) cause disease, suggesting restoration as treatment.

Müllerianosis theory posits that embryonic Müllerian duct remnants misplace and differentiate, forming endometrial-like tissues in non-uterine locations post-puberty, contributing to conditions like endometriosis.

Lymphovascular Metastasis Theory posits that endometrial cells spread via blood and lymph systems, causing distant endometriosis. Evidence is promising but limited.

Coelomic Metaplasia Theory could help explain the cases of endometriosis in men or in women who are not yet menstruating.

The environmental theory of endometriosis suggests exposure to toxins like dioxins and CBs may contribute to its development by disrupting hormones, modulating the immune system, and promoting inflammation.

Retrograde menstruation theory holds that during menstruation, some endometrial tissue reverses through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity. It implants on pelvic organs, thickens, breaks down, and bleeds cyclically, causing inflammation, pain, and scar tissue, characteristic of endometriosis.

An endometrioma is a type of ovarian cyst filled with old blood, arising from endometrial tissue outside the uterus, typically causing pain and potentially impacting fertility.

Transition metals like iron, zinc, copper, and manganese are crucial for the enzymatic machinery of organisms, but their imbalance can foster pathogenic environments within the gastrointestinal tract.

The Chronic Inflammation Hypothesis suggests that persistent inflammation contributes to the development and progression of various chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders.

Bacteria regulate transition metal levels through complex mechanisms to ensure survival and adaptability, influencing both their physiology and the development of antimicrobial strategies.

Definition Molecular mimicry is a biological phenomenon where the molecules (usually proteins or peptides) of one organism mimic the molecular structures of another organism. This mimicry can occur between molecules of different viruses, between viruses and the host, or between different cellular components within an organism.Fundamental Molecules: At the most basic level, molecular mimicry involves […]

Virulence factors are molecules produced by pathogens that contribute to their ability to infect, colonize, and cause disease in host organisms by evading the immune system or damaging host tissues.

Dimethylglyoxime represents a novel therapeutic paradigm that exploits a fundamental metabolic difference between pathogenic bacteria and their mammalian hosts. By selectively depleting bacterial access to nickel, a cofactor essential for multiple pathogenic enzymes but unnecessary for human physiology, MG offers a theoretically host-sparing antimicrobial approach.

Drug repurposing involves identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, offering a cost-effective and time-efficient pathway to enhance treatment options and address unmet medical needs.

A low-nickel diet (NiD) is a therapeutic dietary intervention that eliminates high-nickel foods, primarily plant-based sources such as legumes, nuts, whole grains, and cocoa, to reduce systemic nickel exposure. It is clinically validated for managing systemic nickel allergy syndrome (NAS) and nickel-induced eczema. Its relevance is well-established in microbiome modulation, with studies demonstrating clinical benefits in conditions such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and ERD.

Microbiome signatures are reproducible ecological and functional patterns—encompassing traits, interactions, and metabolic functions—that reflect microbial adaptation to specific host or environmental states. Beyond taxonomy, they capture conserved features like metal metabolism or immune modulation, enabling systems-level diagnosis and intervention in health and disease.

Your microbiome is the collection of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that live on and in your body. It is unique to you and can be influenced by various factors, including your diet, environment, and genetics. Determining your own unique Microbiome Signature can be performed by undergoing microbiome testing. This can be done […]

Photobiomodulation (BM), formerly known as Level Laser Therapy (LLT), is a non-invasive therapeutic technique involving the application of light, typically in the red to near-infrared (IR) spectrum, to promote tissue repair, reduce inflammation and pain, and provide various other therapeutic effects. This technique has gained significant attention in clinical and research settings due to its […]

Integrated microbiome–metabolome profiling revealed that specific subgingival species and CF metabolites strongly track with cognitive decline, offering potential diagnostic markers for Alzheimer’s disease within the oral–brain axis framework.

Irisin improved reproductive and microbial abnormalities in COS mice, reversing key gut taxa shifts and metabolite elevations while restoring ovarian function. Findings suggest an irisin–microbiota axis relevant for COS therapies.

A high-fat, high-fructose diet exerted stronger effects on gut microbiota than letrozole-induced COS in prepubertal mice, reducing CFAs, increasing PS, and altering key genera linked to lipid metabolism and COS-related metabolic disruption.

Irisin improved reproductive and microbiome-metabolome disturbances in COS mice, reversing hyperandrogenism, restoring folliculogenesis, and shifting key bacterial and metabolic signatures toward a healthier profile.

Metformin altered plasma microbial Vs in COS-R, increasing diversity and elevating Streptococcus salivarius Vs, suggesting microbiome-mediated metabolic benefits.

This study details dysbiotic alteration in the fecal microbiota of patients with COS, showing reduced diversity, disrupted CFA-producing genera, and distinct functional microbial changes linked to metabolic dysfunction.

Inulin supplementation in obese COS patients improved gut microbiota balance, reduced inflammation, and shifted sex hormone and metabolic markers toward healthier profiles, supporting microbiome-targeted therapy as a promising adjunct in COS management.

Quinoa improved hormonal, metabolic, ovarian, and gut microbial disturbances in a COS rat model by restoring I3K/KT/mTOR signaling, reducing excess autophagy, and correcting dysbiosis.

What was studied?This study investigated whether the gut microbiome harbors a distinct microbial signature associated with mild cognitive impairment (CI) in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (D). Prior research has established significant differences in the gut microbiome between D patients and healthy controls, but the question of whether specific gut microbiome changes are linked to cognitive […]

This meta-analysis of shotgun gut microbiome datasets in Parkinson’s disease identified cross-country microbial and functional signatures, including reduced riboflavin and biotin biosynthesis, depleted CFA and polyamine levels, and species-level taxonomic shifts—highlighting microbiome-driven metabolic deficits as potential contributors to D pathogenesis.

This study generated a comprehensive set of gut metagenome-assembled genomes, revealing reduced Ruminococcus bromii diversity and loss of key metabolic genes in Parkinson’s disease, along with altered abundances of specific taxa and functional elements, providing valuable insights for microbiome signature databases and clinical research in D.

Metagenomic analysis revealed that Parkinson’s disease is linked to fragmented gut microbial networks, loss of CFA producers, and increased proteolytic metabolism. Specific microbial signatures were associated with disease progression, particularly in “gut-first” D subtypes, emphasizing the clinical and therapeutic relevance of the gut microbiome in D.

Shotgun metagenomics of saliva and stool in early Parkinson’s disease reveals higher gut richness, disrupted microbial networks, and specific oral and gut microbiome signatures that classify D, with saliva taxa and constipation-linked diversity closely tied to autonomic symptom burden.

High-resolution microbial and genome-level signatures were used to build a fecal microbial marker panel for autism diagnosis, revealing distinct taxa, strong classifier performance, and correlations with SD symptom severity.

This study uses large-scale metagenomics to define oral microbiome autism markers, revealing species-level signatures linked to SD, cognitive traits, and behavioral factors such as mouth-breathing, with implications for biomarker development.

This study explores oral, vaginal, and stool microbial signatures in patients with endometriosis, highlighting their potential as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. Findings suggest distinct microbial shifts in these sites, offering a promising avenue for early detection and targeted intervention in endometriosis management.

This study used shotgun metagenomics to compare gut microbiota in pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer patients and controls, showing breast cancer—not menopause—drives modest but consistent dysbiosis involving key taxa and functional pathways.

This study identified significant gut, but not oral, microbial alterations distinguishing breast cancer, CIS, and healthy women, including reduced diversity, Bacteroides enrichment, and inflammation-related functional pathways.

This study used full-length 16S sequencing to characterize oral microbiota changes in Alzheimer’s disease, revealing reduced diversity, elevated Firmicutes, and distinct microbial biomarkers linked to inflammation and cognitive decline.

This study shows that gut microbiota drive Alzheimer’s pathology through UFA-linked neuroinflammation, with Bacteroides species and arachidonic-acid metabolites activating microglia and worsening amyloid and tau lesions.

This study links reduced butyric acid in COS to increased ETTL3-mediated m6A methylation and ovarian inflammation, showing that butyrate supplementation corrects microbial, epigenetic, and inflammatory imbalances in granulosa cells and COS mice.

Orlistat treatment reshaped gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in a COS rat model, lowering androgenic metabolites and shifting microbial taxa toward anti-inflammatory profiles that align with improved metabolic and hormonal balance.

This study shows how L. reuteri protects against circadian disruption–induced COS dyslipidemia by lowering capric acid and inhibiting hepatic ALR1 signaling, driven by microbiome restructuring.

The study shows that a ketogenic diet reshapes the gut microbiome and reduces steroidogenic metabolites in a COS rat model, linking microbial changes to improved insulin resistance and androgen excess.

Omega-3 UFAs gut microbiota COS interactions were tested in HEA-induced mice, revealing both microbial and direct ovarian anti-inflammatory effects that improved metabolic and reproductive dysfunction.

EA improved COS in rats by restoring ovarian signaling pathways and remodeling gut microbiota, increasing taxa such as Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus murinus. These findings highlight microbiome-mediated mechanisms linking botanical therapy to metabolic and reproductive improvements.

What was studied?The study examined fecal microbiota in BD to determine how microbial composition differs between Korean patients with ulcerative colitis (C), Crohn’s disease (D), and healthy controls, and whether specific taxa function as biomarkers for disease severity, extent, and prognosis ir-2021-00168. Researchers used 16S rRNA gene sequencing of stool samples to characterize microbial diversity, […]

Harmonized meta-analysis of fecal 16S data reveals Parkinson disease is linked to loss of butyrate-producing taxa and increased Akkermansia, with modest overall community shifts but a focused, biologically coherent dysbiosis signature.

A multi-cohort metagenomic meta-analysis reveals robust, globally consistent metabolic and gene-level alterations in the gut microbiome of Parkinson’s disease patients, highlighting functional dysbiosis, oxidative stress responses, and disrupted microbial signaling as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Turkish case–control data show reduced CFA producers and increased Lactobacillus and Akkermansia in D, with dysbiosis severity tracking disease duration and non-motor symptoms, supporting a mechanistic gut–brain link.

This study links increased sigmoid mucosal oligomeric α-synuclein and proinflammatory duodenal microbiota with Parkinson’s disease, highlighting the Syn/αSyn ratio as a potential biomarker and suggesting microbiome signatures for early D diagnosis and intervention.

This study links increased Desulfovibrio and Parkinson’s disease severity, identifying a Desulfovibrio AG with strong hydrogen sulfide–producing potential and suggesting Desulfovibrio as both a biomarker and mechanistic contributor to D progression via gut–brain axis disruption.

Cross-sectional metagenomic profiling shows that the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease differs from age-matched controls via selective loss of butyrate-producing taxa, especially Butyricimonas synergistica, with links to non-motor symptoms, ageing-related Bifidobacterium decline, and sleep-associated Roseburia in older adults.

This study links specific gut microbiome dysbiosis signatures in Parkinson’s disease to reduced brain MNAT2 expression and worsening neurobehavioral and oxidative stress outcomes, highlighting MT and MNAT2 restoration as promising therapeutic avenues.

This large, prospective study found that gut microbiome alterations—particularly loss of anti-inflammatory, CFA-producing bacteria—precede Parkinson’s disease, offering promising early biomarkers and highlighting microbial pathways linked to D pathogenesis.

GF21 modulates gut microbiota in Parkinson’s disease, reversing motor and cognitive deficits in D mice while restoring brain and colon metabolic homeostasis. Key microbial shifts include enrichment of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae, highlighting the microbiota–gut–brain axis as a therapeutic target.

This study reveals gender-specific gut microbiota alterations in Parkinson’s disease, linking distinct microbial signatures to brain activity differences via the gut-brain axis. Findings suggest sex-dependent microbial influences on D pathology, emphasizing the importance of personalized approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

This study identified a taurine-based microbiome-metabolism axis in Parkinson’s disease, showing that gut dysbiosis impairs taurine metabolism and exacerbates D pathology. Restoring taurine levels or beneficial microbes alleviates disease features, highlighting potential microbiome-targeted interventions.

Indian D patients show gut microbiome dysbiosis, notably reduced CFA producers and increased Clostridia CG_014. Specific taxa, including Akkermansia and Bacteroides, correlate with constipation. These findings support microbiome-based biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for D, tailored to Indian populations.

This study identifies reduced microbial diversity, elevated propionate, and depleted Lactobacillus as defining features of constipated autism in children, linking microbial shifts and CFA patterns to symptom severity.

This study identifies distinct gut microbiome signatures in Chinese children with SD, including reduced diversity, altered key taxa, and disrupted metabolic pathways, highlighting their potential as biomarkers.

This study links AD to depletion of CFA-producing microbes and disrupted interferon-related gene expression, forming an integrated microbiome–transcriptome signature with diagnostic potential.

This study explores gut microbiome signatures across BS subtypes, highlighting distinct microbial and metabolic shifts. Findings reveal subtype-specific dysbiosis, with implications for personalized dietary interventions and microbiome-targeted therapies for BS-D, BS-C, and BS-U patients.

This study explores multi-omics profiles of the intestinal microbiome in BS subtypes, revealing distinct microbial and metabolic signatures. Findings highlight potential for microbiome-based diagnostics and targeted dietary interventions in BS-D, BS-C, and BS-M, enhancing personalized therapeutic strategies.

This study explores the alteration of the gut microbiota in BS patients, revealing distinct microbial shifts linked to BS subtypes. Findings highlight potential for microbiome-based therapies and personalized intervention strategies to alleviate symptoms and restore gut health in BS-D, BS-C, and BS-M patients.

This study identifies disrupted brain-gut-microbiome interactions in BS patients, revealing altered brain network dynamics and microbial shifts linked to symptom severity and cognitive dysfunction. These findings highlight the potential for targeted therapies addressing both brain connectivity and gut microbiota to improve BS management.

This study identified significant loss of CFA-producing gut bacteria in Midwestern breast cancer patients, along with reduced propionate-generating pathways and increased methane-associated metabolism, highlighting dysbiosis with potential inflammatory and metabolic implications for breast cancer biology.

This study examined the association between gut microbiota and breast cancer, identifying reduced diversity and enrichment of Acidaminococcus, Hungatella, and Tyzzerella in patients, with diet-linked microbial patterns suggesting biomarker and prevention potential.

This study integrates long-read microbiome profiling with untargeted metabolomics to characterize distinct dysbiosis and metabolite alterations across diabetic, hypertensive, and non-comorbid KD. The findings reveal robust species–metabolite networks that differentiate KD subtypes with high diagnostic performance, underscoring their potential as early biomarkers of renal dysfunction and etiologically specific pathophysiology.

This study used fecal 16S sequencing to identify microbial signatures distinguishing KD from SRD, highlighting depletion of CFA-producing taxa and strong associations between microbiome structure and clinical markers, especially β₂-microglobulin.

What was studied?This study (“Parkinson’s disease in monozygotic twins” by Jankovic and Reches, 1986) investigated the occurrence and characteristics of Parkinson’s disease (D) in a pair of monozygotic (identical) twins. The research was prompted by previous twin studies reporting a notably low concordance rate for D among monozygotic twins, suggesting that genetic susceptibility might play […]

This study reveals that gut microbiome alterations, especially reduced Lachnospiraceae taxa, are evident in treatment-naive, de novo Parkinson’s disease patients, supporting early involvement of the microbiome in D pathogenesis, but highlights limited reproducibility of taxonomic biomarkers across cohorts.

This large metagenomic study identified widespread gut microbiome dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease, with specific microbial and functional signatures linked to inflammation, neurodegeneration, and disease progression, offering concrete targets for future clinical interventions and biomarker discovery.