Microbiome News and Research

Latest Microbiome News and Research

Genetic study maps bacteria’s protective armor behind severe infections

The first large-scale genetic study of E. coli's protective armor has identified the five capsule types that are responsible for 70 per cent of all multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in Europe.

25 Mar 2026

Wholegrain rye changes gut bacteria and lowers inflammation in obesity trial

In a 12-week randomized trial, replacing refined wheat with wholegrain rye in a calorie-restricted diet did not produce greater weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity. Wholegrain rye did, however, lower C-reactive protein and alter gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in ways that may have positive cardiometabolic implications.

24 Mar 2026

Gut microbes drive fat browning in response to diet

White adipose tissue stores energy, while brown and beige fat burn energy through thermogenesis. Under certain environmental conditions, white fat can transition into beige fat in a process known as browning.

24 Mar 2026

New models predict biological age using blood and microbiome

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on March 12, 2026, titled "Blood biochemical and gut microbiotic neural network models forecasting human biological age."

23 Mar 2026

Machine learning speeds up AMP discovery for treating ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by recurrent intestinal inflammation, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

23 Mar 2026

U.S. study links ultra-processed foods to lower odds of fertility

A cross-sectional NHANES study of 2,582 U.S. women found that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with lower odds of being classified as fertile based on self-reported infertility history. Greater Mediterranean diet adherence was linked to higher odds of fertility in adjusted models, but that association was no longer significant after accounting for obesity.

22 Mar 2026

Study links gut microbiome imbalance to worsening kidney disease

Researchers at UC Davis School of Medicine have uncovered how an imbalanced gut microbiome escalates the production of metabolic byproducts by certain gut bacteria.

19 Mar 2026

Weaning reshapes gut microbes to strengthen lifelong immune defenses

According to a team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Tongji University and collaborating institutions, weaning or switching from milk to solid food in early life doesn't just change what babies eat, it helps reprogram the gut's immune defenses to mount faster and stronger responses that can last into adulthood.

19 Mar 2026

New microbiome therapy improves autism symptoms in children

This study evaluates a new fecal microbiota transplant method, revealing significant symptom improvements in children with autism without invasive procedures.

18 Mar 2026

Implantable device boosts immune cells to fight cancer effectively

Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment by harnessing the body's own immune system to fight disease.

17 Mar 2026

How one antibiotic dose can reshape your gut microbiome for years

Long-term registry-linked analysis of nearly 15,000 adults shows that antibiotic use is associated with persistent changes in gut microbiome diversity and composition for up to 4–8 years. These effects vary by antibiotic class, with clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, and flucloxacillin showing the strongest and most sustained associations.

17 Mar 2026

New CAR-NKT cell therapy shows promise against aggressive endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and is one of the few cancers in which survival rates have steadily declined over the last few decades.

16 Mar 2026

Why do some people respond better to GLP-1 drugs? Gut microbiome may hold clues

A review in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology examines emerging evidence linking glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), the gut microbiome, and obesity treatment outcomes. The authors conclude that microbiome changes seen during therapy are most likely driven by diet, behavior, and weight loss, although microbial profiling may eventually help predict patient responses.

15 Mar 2026

Vaginal microbiome may play key role in pregnancy health and preterm birth risk, researchers say

Researchers reviewed evidence linking the vaginal microbiome to pregnancy health and spontaneous preterm birth, highlighting how Lactobacillus-dominated communities help maintain immune balance and vaginal acidity. Dysbiosis and inflammatory signaling may contribute to preterm birth risk, while emerging microbiome-targeted therapies aim to restore protective microbial ecosystems.

15 Mar 2026

Scientists show gut bacteria can reach the brain in mice and reveal a potential vagus nerve pathway

Researchers found that very small numbers of gut bacteria can translocate to the brain in mice, particularly when gut barrier permeability increases due to a Paigen diet. Evidence suggests the vagus nerve may serve as a partial route for this gut-to-brain microbial movement.

15 Mar 2026

Gut microbes may drive memory decline during aging by disrupting vagal brain signaling

Researchers identified in mice a microbiome–gut–brain pathway in which age-associated changes in gut microbes increase medium-chain fatty acids that impair vagal sensory signaling and hippocampal activity. These interoceptive disruptions weaken memory formation, revealing a microbial mechanism that contributes to cognitive decline during aging.

12 Mar 2026

High fat diets allow gut bacteria to enter the brain via the vagus nerve

With more than 100 million neurons in the digestive tract, the gut is commonly known as the "second brain" in numerous cultures, including ancient Greece, Japan, China and India, linking digestion with physical and mental well-being.

12 Mar 2026

Prebiotic fiber supplement lowers pain sensitivity in people with knee osteoarthritis

A new study has found that a prebiotic fiber supplement reduced pain, improved grip strength, and lowered pain sensitivity in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) - with far fewer dropouts than a digital physiotherapy programme.

12 Mar 2026

Scientists uncover how the immune system actively builds food tolerance

Food allergies are serious and, for some, potentially deadly. And yet, despite decades of research into allergies and what causes them, very little is known about why the vast majority of people are able to tolerate foods that can sicken or even kill others.

11 Mar 2026

How the aging gastrointestinal tract drives age-related cognitive decline

We become forgetful as we age. This is often seen as a universal truth, but in fact it is far from universal: some people remain incredibly sharp at 100 years old, while others experience memory loss starting in middle age.

11 Mar 2026