Microbiome News and Research

Latest Microbiome News and Research

Eating kombu daily enhances gut health and heart markers in men

A 12-week randomized trial found that daily intake of boiled kombu (Laminaria japonica) powder reduced body fat and raised adiponectin in Japanese men, while improving blood pressure and gut microbiota in both sexes. No significant effects were seen in women for body fat reduction or adiponectin.

20 May 2025

This news might ruin your appetite — and summer

It's a marvel of food technology: ice cream that resists melting.

20 May 2025

Acetate and gut bacteria work together to reduce obesity in mice

Researchers led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have discovered a new way to reduce obesity.

19 May 2025

Repeated antibiotics in preterm infants linked to long-term lung problems

Repeated perinatal antibiotic exposure in very low-birth-weight preterm infants was associated with impaired lung function and a higher risk of asthma at early school age. The findings underscore the need for cautious antibiotic use and targeted respiratory health strategies in this high-risk group.

18 May 2025

Black tea kombucha reduces harmful gut microbes linked to obesity

Regular consumption of black tea kombucha for eight weeks beneficially shifted gut microbiota composition in both normal-weight and obese adults.

14 May 2025

Eating only wild foods reshapes your gut microbiome in just weeks, study shows

A new study shows that an eight-week wild-food-only diet in a modern adult leads to dramatic, partially lasting changes in the gut microbiome’s composition and function. While no “ancestral” microbes reappeared, the shift increased fiber-degrading species and reduced dairy-associated bacteria, highlighting the powerful role of diet.

14 May 2025

Urban children have more pro-allergic immune cells than rural peers

Scientists discovered that a previously uncharacterized subset of immune cells may play a critical role in the development of allergic diseases and explain differences between urban and rural populations.

14 May 2025

Skin microbiome plays active role in sun protection and immune balance

The skin microbiome plays an important role in health and disease. Researchers have now substantiated that certain skin bacteria can protect us from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation specifically by metabolizing cis-urocanic acid using an enzyme called urocanase.

13 May 2025

Wastewater surveillance detects measles in Houston before cases are reported

An innovative outbreak detection program that tracks disease-causing viruses in wastewater identified the measles virus in Houston samples collected in early January 2025, before cases were reported.

12 May 2025

Research sheds light on the profound connections between diet, inflammation, and gum health

New research presented at EuroPerio11 sheds light on the profound connections between diet, inflammation, and gum health.

12 May 2025

Antibiotic use in infancy raises early puberty risk in girls, study finds

Girls exposed to antibiotics in the first three months of life are significantly more likely to enter puberty early, according to a large South Korean study. The risk increases with earlier exposure and a greater number of antibiotic classes, with no similar effect seen in boys.

10 May 2025

Eating avocado in pregnancy cuts infant food allergy risk by nearly half

Pregnant women who ate avocado were significantly less likely to have children with food allergies at 12 months of age. The association held even after adjusting for maternal diet quality, lifestyle, and perinatal factors in a large Finnish cohort.

8 May 2025

Scientists build world's most accessible gut bacteria collection to unlock health and disease clues

Researchers have developed the Human Intestinal Bacteria Collection (HiBC), comprising 340 gut bacterial strains from 198 species, including 29 newly described taxa, made publicly available for functional microbiome research.

7 May 2025

Air pollution reshapes children’s nasal microbiome and reduces diversity in winter

A new study from Milan reveals that short-term exposure to air pollutants like black carbon and VOCs significantly alters the nasal microbiota of school-aged children. These changes vary by season, with winter exposure reducing microbial diversity and favoring potentially pathogenic bacteria.

7 May 2025

Molecular Devices launches automated QPix FLEX Microbial Colony Picking System

Molecular Devices, LLC., a leading high-performance life science solutions provider, today launched the QPix® FLEX™ Microbial Colony Picking System.

7 May 2025

Can your diet slow skin aging? New review reveals what helps and what harms

Scientists reviewed recent studies and found that antioxidant-rich diets help slow skin aging, while high intake of refined sugars and trans fats accelerates it. A balanced, nutrient-dense diet may be a practical way to protect skin health and delay visible signs of aging.

6 May 2025

Women face higher depression risk from unhealthy food

A cross-sectional study of over 15,000 adults across multiple countries found that ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption was linked to higher odds of depression, especially in women across all age groups. Healthy dietary patterns were protective in women aged 18–54, but showed no benefit for men.

5 May 2025