Month: November 2017

Can experiments detect differences that matter?

While the experiments performed and technologies used may aid in beginning to categorize microbes via their genes, there are limitations. We are not yet able to minutely distinguish between outcomes being related to one gene or another unless both genes are sufficiently categorized – a task which is hard to complete. Another limitation is being unable to determine key differences between closely related genes.

Does the study show causation or correlation?

This is important to consider. When determining whether something is causal, as in X causes Y, one must also ponder the possibility of confounding variables or co-variables. It is also important to recognize the possibility of Y causing X, in the event that a causal relationship proves to be possible. It is easy to mistake correlation for causation, which can be a source for controversy. Because other contributing factors are often overlooked, there can easily spark a debate over whether a variable is responsible for eliciting an observed consequence. There can be many players that cause an observed outcome, and all options must be meticulously weighed before any assumptions are made.

What is the mechanism?

While we may be able to identify a seemingly causal relationship, it is equally, if not more important to understand the microbiology behind the relationship. This is sometimes easier said than done since some microbes are presently unculturable. However, scientific methods are becoming increasingly revealing.

How much do experiments reflect reality?

Experiments involving a created microbiome are often harder to apply to real life scenarios. The study subjects used are often sterile mice that are inoculated with another specimen’s preexisting microbiota. The results may be difficult to apply to humans who are not sterile. The microbiome is also often manipulated during experiment in ways that are not normal or feasible in real life. There are also other contributing factors that influence the impact of one’s microbiome.

Could anything else explain the results?

While it may be exciting to unveil the relationship between our microbiomes and our bodily functions, we cannot overlook the fact that our bodies function as a culmination of our surroundings, both internally and externally. We cannot get swept away with microbes as the soul source of our being. It is important to consider other factors such as diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices that may also be impacting our health.

There is lots of speculation surrounding the relationship between mental health and microbes. One mechanism that has been suggested is an indirect mechanism which involves microbes causing the release of cytokines, which in return causes the brain to carry out certain actions in response to the cytokine release. Another method is that neurotransmitters produced by certain microbes may be connecting with nerve endings in the stomach, sending signals to the brain to react accordingly. A third approach involves the byproducts of microbes, which are believed to be able to enter the receptive ends of the vagus and sympathetic nerves that report back to the brain.

Because it is believed that the brain and stomach are linked systematically, both are able to influence the other. It was previously discussed how the microbiota can influence mental health. One’s nervous system can also influence his microbial community. For instance, the presence of the vagus nerve is required for a certain microorganism to have any influence on the brain. Therefore, if the nervous system is damaged, it is possible that some microbes in the microbiota will be unable to exhibit their effects on one’s mental state.

Since the brain and microbiota appear to be linked, a steady relationship must be achieved if we want both to work properly. Ways to reach an optimally functioning relationship is to take probiotics or antibiotics as needed. Few studies have been done that show a relationship between antibiotic treatments and relieving ASD symptoms. However, we must be careful to not irreversibly disrupt our microbiota, as it heavily functions in other parts of our well-being.

The process of peer reviewing is a critical step for all writers. On a professional level, peer review is one of the obstacles needed to be overcome in order for a manuscript to be published in a scientific journal. For students, it is a crucial learning opportunity for criticism and evaluation when working towards a completed final draft. The process typically involves an author completing a write up of some research she performed, then submitting the write up to a colleague for review. The peer review happens when the colleague reads through the manuscript, making both suggestive and supportive comments on the piece. The purpose of the peer reviewer is to identify any areas of the original work that may need improvement. However, the reviewer should not be condescending and rather write the review as if he were writing to himself. While reviewers should be constructive, they need not be unkind. Once the review is finished, the comments are returned to the author for revisions. In academia, the revised draft is usually worked on until it becomes the completed draft. In professional writing, the revised version must be resubmitted for further reviews by colleagues, and revisions must continue to be made until the manuscript is either approved for publishing or rejected altogether.

Some benefits of peer reviews include: fresh eyes looking at your writing, the value of others’ opinions, and personally learning how to work with criticism. Some cons of peer reviews include: putting the fate of your article into someone else’s hands (especially in professional writing), the suggested revisions may not align with the information you wanted to include, and taking the revisions personally.

Some human behaviors that may contribute to decreased exposure to microbes include:

• Sterilizing cooking utensils or using disposable dishware
• Frequently sanitizing surfaces
• Living alone
• Frequent showers
• Always washing hands (sort of incessantly)
• Wearing gloves
• Working in a highly sterile environment
• Wearing surgical mask to prevent inhalation of airborne bacteria
• Having a low-bacteria diet (foods such as pasteurized milk and yogurt, well-cooked meats, frozen/canned/dried fruits and veggies are typically low in bacteria)

Below are some factors a mother and/or infant may encounter that can influence the development of the child’s microbiota:

• Hygiene and social condition – The social environment a mother puts herself in exposes her to the bacteria within that environment. Her hygiene is also important. If a mother does not wash her hands or use sterile utensils, the bacteria acquired from improper hygiene could be transferred to the fetus.
• Smoking in pregnancy – Smoking while pregnant is highly advised against. Doing so will expose the fetus to harmful toxins and chemicals associated with cigarettes.
• Antibiotic exposure – If a mother takes antibiotics, the antibiotics may affect bacterial development within the fetus. It could prevent some types of useful bacteria from beginning colonization, or it could cause the bacteria already present to be on a steadfast path towards antibacterial-resistance.
• Method of feeding – Children who are breastfed are exposed to different bacteria than those who are formula or bottle fed.
• Gestational age – Mothers have different bacteria present during different trimesters of pregnancy. Through mother-child symbiosis, the microbiota of children within the womb will change with the mother’s.
• Childbearing method – Children birthed through the vagina are exposed to their mothers’ vaginal bacteria. Those born through cesarean section are exposed to the bacteria on the surface of their mothers’ skin.