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Microbiome Targeted Interventions (MBTIs) are revolutionizing modern medicine. These interventions can precisely modulate the microbiome, offering unprecedented precision in targeting pathogens while preserving beneficial microbes.
Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs)
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
Microbiome Targeted Interventions (BTIs) are cutting-edge treatments that utilize information from Microbiome Signatures to modulate the microbiome, revolutionizing medicine with unparalleled precision and impact.
Research feed -
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Researched by:
-
Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
Overview 
Research Feed Overview
Microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs) are a cutting-edge field in medical research, focusing on manipulating the human microbiome—the collective genomes of our body’s microorganisms—to achieve specific health outcomes. Advanced sequencing and bioinformatics have deepened our understanding, making MBTIs a key component of precision medicine, revolutionizing treatments with unparalleled precision and impact.
Rapid Expansion of Microbiome Research
Over the past decade, microbiome research has experienced exponential growth, driven by significant technological advancements and an increasing recognition of the microbiome’s impact on human health. High-throughput sequencing technologies, such as 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics, have enabled comprehensive profiling of microbial communities, while metabolomics and proteomics provide insights into the functional implications of these communities. This growing body of research has unveiled correlations between microbiome dysbiosis and a wide array of diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, and more.
Indicators from Research
Key findings from microbiome research have underscored the potential of Microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs) in modulating health outcomes. Studies have demonstrated the influence of gut microbiota on brain function and behavior, highlighting the potential of MBTIs in treating psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. The gut microbiome’s role in metabolic processes suggests that MBTIs could be instrumental in managing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. Additionally, the microbiome’s interaction with the immune system opens avenues for MBTIs in treating autoimmune diseases and enhancing cancer immunotherapies. Furthermore, manipulating the microbiome to outcompete pathogenic microbes presents a novel strategy for preventing and treating infections.
Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs)
Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs) encompass diverse strategies aimed at modulating the microbiome to achieve therapeutic outcomes. The integration of probiotics, prebiotics, FMT, dietary modifications, phage therapy, microbiome-derived metabolites, supplements, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions represents a multifaceted approach to precision medicine. As our understanding of the microbiome deepens, these interventions hold promise for revolutionizing the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases.
Quick overview of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics
Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics
Probiotics: These are defined as live microorganisms that confer health benefits on the host when administered in adequate amounts. The mechanisms by which probiotics exert their effects include competitive exclusion of pathogens, enhancement of epithelial barrier function, modulation of the immune response, and production of antimicrobial substances. Specific strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium spp. have been extensively studied for their therapeutic potential in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD).
Prebiotics: These are substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit. Common prebiotics include fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and inulin. These compounds resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract and undergo fermentation by the gut microbiota in the colon, leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate, propionate, and butyrate. SCFAs serve as an energy source for colonocytes, enhance mucosal integrity, and exert anti-inflammatory effects.
Postbiotics: Postbiotics are preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer health benefits to the host. These non-living microbial products include cell wall fragments, metabolites, and structural proteins. Postbiotics modulate the immune response, enhance the epithelial barrier function, and reduce inflammation. Postbiotics offer a promising avenue for therapeutic applications in conditions such as gut dysbiosis, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, and even mental health disorders.
Quick overview of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)
FMT involves transferring stool from a healthy donor to a patient’s gastrointestinal tract to restore a balanced microbiome. The procedure has shown remarkable efficacy in treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI), with cure rates exceeding 90%. The underlying mechanisms include the reconstitution of microbial diversity, suppression of pathogenic organisms, and modulation of host immune responses. Current research is exploring FMT’s potential in treating other conditions such as IBD, metabolic syndrome, and even neuropsychiatric disorders.
Quick overview of Dietary Modifications
Dietary Modifications
Dietary interventions can profoundly influence the composition and function of the microbiome. Diets high in fiber promote the growth of beneficial bacteria that produce SCFAs, while specific dietary components, such as polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids, have been shown to exert prebiotic-like effects by enhancing the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing inflammation. Personalized nutrition, based on individual microbiome profiles, is an emerging area of research aimed at optimizing dietary interventions for health promotion and disease prevention.
What diets have been explored so far as MBTIs?
Bacteria regulate transition metal levels such as nickel through complex mechanisms to ensure survival and adaptability, influencing both their physiology and the development of antimicrobial strategies. Thus, a Low-Nickel Diet emerges as a strategy to combat pathogens that utilize nickel that are overrepresented in certain conditions such as endometriosis.
Quick overview of Phage Therapy
Phage Therapy
Phage therapy utilizes bacteriophages, viruses that infect and lyse specific bacterial cells, to target and eliminate pathogenic bacteria within the microbiome. Phages are highly specific, reducing the risk of off-target effects on beneficial microbiota. Recent advancements in phage therapy include the engineering of phages to enhance their stability, specificity, and efficacy. This approach shows promise in treating antibiotic-resistant infections, such as those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and in modulating dysbiotic microbiomes in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Quick overview of Microbiome-Derived Metabolites
Microbiome-Derived Metabolites
Administering specific metabolites produced by beneficial microbes can directly modulate physiological processes and influence disease outcomes. For instance, butyrate, a SCFA produced by gut bacteria from dietary fiber, has anti-inflammatory properties, enhances gut barrier function, and may play a role in preventing colorectal cancer. Other metabolites, such as indole derivatives and bile acids, have been implicated in modulating metabolic and immune responses. Therapeutic strategies involving microbiome-derived metabolites include direct supplementation and the use of precursor compounds to enhance endogenous production.
Quick overview of Pharmacological Interventions and Drug Repurposing
Pharmacological Interventions and Drug Repurposing
Recent research has highlighted the potential of pharmacological interventions in modulating the microbiome. Several existing drugs have been found to influence the composition and function of the microbiome, a phenomenon that can be leveraged for therapeutic purposes. For example, Metformin while initially used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, alters gut microbiota composition, increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium spp., which can be useful when the Microbiome Signature of a condition indicates an underrepresented population of these regulatory species, such as in Grave’s Disease.
Future Directions and Challenges
The integration of MBTIs into mainstream medicine faces several challenges, including the need for personalized approaches due to regulatory hurdles and the requirement for robust clinical trials to establish efficacy and safety. However, current research trajectory indicates a promising future where MBTIs will become integral to preventive and therapeutic strategies across various medical disciplines.
Conclusion
The rapid expansion of microbiome research has illuminated the profound influence of the microbiome on human health, positioning Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs) as a transformative approach in medicine. By leveraging the intricate relationships between microbial communities and host physiology, MBTIs hold the potential to revolutionize disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, heralding a new era of precision medicine. As research continues to uncover the complexities of the microbiome, the development and implementation of MBTIs will undoubtedly become a cornerstone of future medical practice.
Research Feed
Microbiota-targeted interventions for mental health
November 19, 2021
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Microbiome-targeted interventions for the control of oral-gut dysbiosis and chronic systemic inflammation
September 18, 2023
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Evidence for clinical interventions targeting the gut microbiome in cardiometabolic disease.
October 9, 2023
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Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) involves transferring fecal bacteria from a healthy donor to a patient to restore microbiome balance.
Phage Therapy
Phage therapy uses viruses to target and kill specific bacteria, offering a precise alternative to antibiotics, especially for resistant infections.
Nickel
Bacteria regulate transition metal levels through complex mechanisms to ensure survival and adaptability, influencing both their physiology and the development of antimicrobial strategies.
Low‑Nickel Diet (LNiD)
A low-nickel diet (LNiD) 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 (SNAS) 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 GERD.
Phage Therapy
Phage therapy uses viruses to target and kill specific bacteria, offering a precise alternative to antibiotics, especially for resistant infections.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Recent research has focused on the gut microbiota's role in IBS, aiming to identify specific microbial signatures associated with the condition.