Did you know?
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. This groundbreaking approach is not just about curing diseases but also about enhancing human health and longevity in ways we never thought possible!
Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs)
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Karen 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
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
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
While the review provides a hopeful outlook on the potential of Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs) for mental health, it also calls for rigorous, large-scale research to fill existing gaps and translate preliminary findings into clinical practice.
What was reviewed?
This review examined recent advances in microbiota-targeted interventions for the management of mental health. It focused on a variety of approaches that target the gut microbiota, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), postbiotics, microbial metabolites, whole dietary interventions, and fermented foods. The review aimed to update the current understanding of how these interventions can influence mental health and to identify gaps in the existing literature.
Who was reviewed?
The review synthesized findings from studies involving both healthy populations and clinical cohorts with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. It included evidence from preclinical animal models as well as human clinical trials, emphasizing studies that explored the impact of gut microbiota modulation on mental health outcomes.
What were the most important findings of this review?
Probiotics: Probiotic supplementation, particularly using strains of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, has shown promise in reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. However, the evidence is mixed, and more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in clinical populations are needed. Multistrain probiotics and combined dietary-probiotic approaches appear to enhance efficacy.
Prebiotics: Prebiotics have demonstrated potential benefits for mental health, though the evidence is less robust compared to probiotics. The impact of prebiotics like galactooligosaccharides (GOS) varies based on the population and specific mental health conditions studied.
Synbiotics: Combining probiotics and prebiotics (synbiotics) has shown positive outcomes in improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety in specific populations, but research is still in early stages.
Postbiotics and Microbial Metabolites: These emerging interventions show potential for modulating brain function and behavior, but human studies are limited. Some microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), have shown promising effects in animal models and preliminary human studies.
Fecal Microbial Transplant (FMT): FMT presents a promising but nascent approach for treating psychiatric disorders. Preliminary animal and small human studies suggest benefits, but larger, well-controlled trials are necessary.
Whole Dietary Interventions: Diets like the Mediterranean and Japanese diets, high in fiber and fermented foods, have been associated with better mental health outcomes. However, evidence from large human cohorts is limited, and individualized dietary responses need further investigation.
Fermented Foods: These have been traditionally consumed for their health benefits, and recent studies suggest they may positively impact mental health. However, evidence is still sparse and inconclusive.
What are the greatest implications of this review?
Promising Adjunct Therapies: The review highlights the potential of microbiota-targeted interventions as adjunct therapies for mental health disorders. These approaches could complement existing pharmacological treatments, offering new avenues for patients who do not respond well to conventional medications.
Personalized Medicine: The personalized nature of gut-targeted interventions is emphasized. Factors such as baseline microbiota composition, dietary habits, and individual microbiota profiles will be crucial in tailoring effective treatments. This underscores the need for personalized medicine approaches in developing microbiota-targeted therapies.
Need for High-Quality Research: There is a significant need for large, well-designed clinical trials to establish the efficacy and safety of these interventions. Future research should focus on well-characterized clinical populations, standardized dosages, and intervention durations to develop evidence-based guidelines.
Long-Term Interventions: The potential for long-term changes in the microbiota through diet and other interventions suggests that many of these approaches may need to be sustained over the long term to maintain benefits.
Mechanistic Insights: Understanding the specific mechanisms through which microbiota-targeted interventions influence brain function and behavior will be crucial. This includes studying microbial metabolites and their interactions with the host’s nervous system.
Broader Implications for Health: Given the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiota and the brain, these interventions may have broader implications for overall health, influencing not just mental health but also systemic conditions related to the gut-brain axis.
Microbiome-targeted interventions for the control of oral-gut dysbiosis and chronic systemic inflammation
September 18, 2023
This study provides important insights into the role of oral-gut dysbiosis in systemic inflammation and underscores the potential of Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs) in treating and preventing inflammatory diseases. The findings pave the way for future research and the development of precision medicine approaches that could significantly impact public health.
Evidence for clinical interventions targeting the gut microbiome in cardiometabolic disease.
October 9, 2023
this review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the current evidence supporting microbiome-targeted interventions for cardiometabolic health, highlighting their potential, existing gaps, and the need for further research to establish effective and personalized treatment guidelines.
What was reviewed?
The review evaluated the evidence for clinical effects of various microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs) on cardiometabolic traits. The interventions assessed included dietary changes, dietary supplementation, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and other therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome. The review aimed to understand how these interventions influence cardiometabolic health outcomes and to identify the mechanisms through which the gut microbiome modulates these effects.
Who was reviewed?
The review synthesized findings from a broad range of human studies, including clinical intervention trials targeting the gut microbiome to improve cardiometabolic health. The reviewed studies included diverse populations across different geographic regions, though a notable disparity was observed, with a lack of trials from South Asia and Africa. The participants in these studies suffered from various cardiometabolic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases.
What were the most important findings of this review?
Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Cardiometabolic Risk: The gut microbiome plays a critical role in cardiometabolic health by sensing metabolic changes, modulating physiological responses, and translating dietary and therapeutic interventions into health outcomes via its metabolites.
Efficacy of Interventions: Over 70% of clinical intervention studies reported significant improvements in cardiometabolic traits. Prebiotic interventions were most likely to alter gut microbiome composition, followed by dietary interventions and then probiotic interventions. There was no significant difference in efficacy between single strain and multi-strain probiotic/synbiotic interventions in improving cardiometabolic outcomes or altering gut microbiome composition.
Mechanistic Insights:The gut microbiome modulates cardiometabolic health through microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), secondary bile acids, phenylacetylglutamine, and trimethylamine-N-oxide. The microbiome can act as a sensor, modulator, and translator of physiological changes and dietary interventions, impacting inflammation, insulin sensitivity, and blood lipid levels.
Geographical and Intervention Disparities: Most studies were conducted in Europe and North America, with significant gaps in research from South Asia and Africa. Dietary interventions, especially those combined with other interventions, showed the highest efficacy in improving cardiometabolic health and altering the gut microbiome.
What are the greatest implications of this review?
Potential for Targeted Therapies: The review highlights the potential for using microbiome-targeted interventions to improve cardiometabolic health. These interventions can complement traditional treatments and offer personalized therapeutic strategies based on individual microbiome profiles.
Importance of Comprehensive Approaches: Broader dietary interventions and prebiotics, which target a wider range of gut microbiome components, appear to be more effective than single-strain probiotics. This suggests that comprehensive approaches targeting the microbiome holistically are more beneficial for cardiometabolic health.
Need for Standardized and Large-Scale Studies: The review underscores the necessity for well-designed, large-scale clinical trials with standardized protocols to identify specific therapeutic targets and mechanisms. Consistency in study design and outcomes is crucial for developing evidence-based guidelines for microbiome-targeted therapies.
Geographical Research Gaps: There is a need to conduct more research in underrepresented regions such as South Asia and Africa to understand the global applicability of microbiome-targeted interventions and to address regional health disparities.
Mechanistic Understanding and Biomarkers: Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms through which the gut microbiome influences cardiometabolic health. Identifying robust biomarkers of microbiome functional changes will aid in developing precise therapeutic strategies and improve the predictability of intervention outcomes.
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.