Latest news with #Firmicutes
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Why the appendix is much more important than we once thought
You may have heard that astronauts have their appendix removed before leaving Earth. After all, people say you can live without this organ because it serves no purpose, but how much truth is there in this belief? Let's start by locating it. The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch located where the small intestine joins the large intestine, in the cecum. Inflammation and infection of the appendix, known as appendicitis, can lead to rupture of the organ and subsequent widespread infection (peritonitis). If left untreated, it can become life-threatening. On some long-term missions to remote and isolated areas – such as Antarctica or outer space – participants were previously required to undergo appendix removal surgery (appendectomy) before departure. This was justified by the limited access to medical facilities and the difficulties in evacuating people from these remote areas in the event of a medical emergency. Removing the appendix prior to departure eliminated any risk of appendicitis and its associated complications during the mission, thus helping to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those involved. Apparently, there were no downsides, though we now know that it not the case. For our ancestors, the appendix most likely evolved to help them digest a diet rich in raw vegetables and cellulose, as it still does in many herbivorous mammals. Thousands of years ago it would have functioned as an extension of the cecum, involved in the bacterial digestion of fibrous plant materials. As the human diet diversified, becoming richer in animal proteins and more digestible cooked or fermented foods, there was less need for a bulky cecum and a functional appendix to digest cellulose. As a result, the human appendix reduced in size and lost its original digestive function. For this reason, it has long been considered a vestigial organ, a part of the body that was useful at the time but that we can do without today. However, while it no longer serves its original purpose, we now know that the appendix has evolved new functions that are essential for human health. Leer más: The appendix has been shown to be an important component of immune function, especially in early life. It acts as a lymphoid organ similar to Peyer's patches in the intestine, and contributes to the maturation of B lymphocytes (a variety of white blood cell) and the production of antibodies (type A immunoglobulin), which are crucial for controlling the density and quality of the intestinal microbiota. In addition, the appendix itself contains a very diverse and varied microbiota, including bacteria such as Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria. This diversity is distinct from other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting a specialised role. Removal of the appendix has been associated with a reduction in gut bacterial diversity. People who have undergone an appendectomy show a reduced amount of beneficial short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, including Roseburia, Barnesiella, Butyricicoccus, Odoribacter and Butyricimonas. This reduction in microbial diversity can lead to intestinal dysbiosis, and potentially increase susceptibility to various diseases. Appendectomy has also been linked to an increase in fungal diversity in the gut. This change in the microbial ecosystem suggests that the appendix may play a role in the balance between bacterial and fungal populations, potentially acting as a store of commensal gut microbiota that repopulate the colon after exposure to pathogens or antibiotic treatment. The appendix may play a further role in protecting the gastrointestinal system from invading pathogens. This would explain why surgical removal of the appendix has been associated with a worse prognosis for recurrent infection with Clostridioides difficile, and an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis. It may even be related to the increased incidence of other conditions such as heart disease and Parkinson's disease. The role of the appendix in maintaining microbial diversity therefore appears to be critical to overall health. Leer más: Although removal of the appendix was until recently quite a routine procedure, we cannot ignore its potential risks. First of all, there are the risks inherent to any surgery – postoperative infections can occur in any surgical procedure, and appendectomies are no exception. Haemorrhage is another possible complication that may arise during or after removal, and in rare cases, postoperative bleeding may require blood transfusions. Moreover, an appendectomy is usually performed under general anaesthesia, which carries its own set of additional risks. But as we have just seen, the appendix also plays a significant role in regulating the gut microbiome, contributing to its diversity. This is why removal as a preventive measure is no longer recommended for astronauts. NASA is aware that the potential risks associated with such an intervention outweigh its benefits, and prefers to focus on maintaining astronauts' overall health while providing the necessary medical support during space missions. Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos académicos. Lee mas: Appendix cancer rising among younger generation – new study After 180 years, new clues are revealing just how general anaesthesia works in the brain 'Placebo' or 'sham' surgery is not a cruel trick – it can be very effective Ignacio López-Goñi no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoría, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y ha declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
University Trial Confirms Persist® PAF Enhances Plant-Beneficial Microbes
VGrid partnered with Wageningen University and Research, a global leader in controlled-environment agriculture, to conduct this hydroponics tomato cultivation trial. CAMARILLO, Calif., June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A recent university study found that Persist® PAF, a liquid enhancer for plants and soil, boosts the growth of beneficial microbes in biochar—leading to lasting improvements in the root zone of hydroponic tomato plants. The study, conducted in the Netherlands, compared pistachio shell biochar—produced by VGrid's Bioserver® units—with standard coir slabs, untreated biochar, acetic acid-treated biochar, and biochar pre-treated with PAF. Researchers evaluated microbial activity in both the growing medium and tomato rhizosphere over a 23-week cultivation period using advanced qPCR and DNA metabarcoding methods. In the trial, PAF-treated biochar showed significantly higher levels of beneficial bacteria—especially those involved in nutrient cycling and plant resilience—compared to untreated or acid-only treatments. The result is a more biologically active root zone that supports better plant growth and productivity. Key Findings: Biochar treated with PAF resulted in the highest overall tomato yield and bacterial abundance compared to all other substrates, including coir, untreated biochar, and biochar treated with acetic acid. The bacterial phyla Nitrospirae and Firmicutes, which are known to promote nutrient cycling and plant resilience, were substantially more abundant in the PAF-treated biochar. PAF had a lasting impact on the microbiome of the biochar substrate and the tomato rhizosphere, resulting in a more diverse and beneficial bacterial community throughout the cultivation period. These findings highlight the potential of PAF to enhance crop and soil productivity, reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, and advance sustainable, organic, and regenerative agriculture. Jeff Norton, Vice President of Business Development with VGrid, commented, "We're excited with these results. They further confirm what we've seen in previous trials and the field—PAF improves plant vigor and drives positive change to the microbiome. The PAF-treated biochar also significantly outperformed acetic acid-treated biochar, showing that PAF's benefits aren't just about lowering pH—its unique chemistry is driving the results." For more information, visit or email info@ About VGrid: VGrid Energy Systems is a carbon-negative, renewable energy producer on a mission to reverse climate change. The company's innovative Bioserver® processes agricultural waste into renewable electricity while creating valuable biochar and bioliquids that naturally improve crop yields and soil productivity. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Jeff (805) 482-9040 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Science
- Business Wire
University Trial Confirms Persist® PAF Enhances Plant-Beneficial Microbes
CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A recent university study found that Persist® PAF, a liquid enhancer for plants and soil, boosts the growth of beneficial microbes in biochar—leading to lasting improvements in the root zone of hydroponic tomato plants. PAF-treated biochar showed a 10-fold increase in beneficial bacteria populations compared to other hydroponic growing media. Share The study, conducted in the Netherlands, compared pistachio shell biochar—produced by VGrid's Bioserver® units—with standard coir slabs, untreated biochar, acetic acid-treated biochar, and biochar pre-treated with PAF. Researchers evaluated microbial activity in both the growing medium and tomato rhizosphere over a 23-week cultivation period using advanced qPCR and DNA metabarcoding methods. In the trial, PAF-treated biochar showed significantly higher levels of beneficial bacteria—especially those involved in nutrient cycling and plant resilience—compared to untreated or acid-only treatments. The result is a more biologically active root zone that supports better plant growth and productivity. Key Findings: Biochar treated with PAF resulted in the highest overall tomato yield and bacterial abundance compared to all other substrates, including coir, untreated biochar, and biochar treated with acetic acid. The bacterial phyla Nitrospirae and Firmicutes, which are known to promote nutrient cycling and plant resilience, were substantially more abundant in the PAF-treated biochar. PAF had a lasting impact on the microbiome of the biochar substrate and the tomato rhizosphere, resulting in a more diverse and beneficial bacterial community throughout the cultivation period. These findings highlight the potential of PAF to enhance crop and soil productivity, reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, and advance sustainable, organic, and regenerative agriculture. Jeff Norton, Vice President of Business Development with VGrid, commented, 'We're excited with these results. They further confirm what we've seen in previous trials and the field—PAF improves plant vigor and drives positive change to the microbiome. The PAF-treated biochar also significantly outperformed acetic acid-treated biochar, showing that PAF's benefits aren't just about lowering pH—its unique chemistry is driving the results.' For more information, visit or email . About VGrid: VGrid Energy Systems is a carbon-negative, renewable energy producer on a mission to reverse climate change. The company's innovative Bioserver® processes agricultural waste into renewable electricity while creating valuable biochar and bioliquids that naturally improve crop yields and soil productivity. For more information, visit
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Peered Inside The Echidna's Mysterious 'Pseudo-Pouch'
Spiny, snooty, and strange, echidnas are among Australia's wackiest animals. They're mammals, which means they feed their young milk, but only after the puggle (that's the word for a newborn echidna) hatches from an egg. Now, biologists from the University of Adelaide in Australia have taken a closer look at what is going on inside the 'pseudo-pouches' of short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) while they rear their young. The females of most other Australian marsupials have permanent pouches, kitted out with milk-dispensing nipples, to feed, protect, and carry their young in the early days. Echidnas, however, do not have a true pouch. Instead, they form what's called a pseudo-pouch by contracting their abdominal muscles, concealing their baby as it drinks its mother's milk in a unique way. "The puggle rubs its beak against a part of the pseudo-pouch called the milk patch, causing milk to come out of the skin, sort of like a sweat or oil gland," explains biologist Isabella Wilson from the University of Adelaide. As one of the two kinds of monotremes (the other being the platypus), echidnas lay a single egg instead of giving birth to live young. The mother echidna carries this egg in her pseudo-pouch for as little as 10 days before a tiny, pink, jellybean-like baby echidna hatches. As you can see, it is very small and very helpless at this time. And the spines, thankfully, only come in once the puggle has grown much bigger (about the same time the mother kicks them out). Like every other nook and cranny of an animal's body, echidna pseudo-pouches have a specific microbiome made up of bacteria and other microbes. Because puggles hatch from eggs, they do not have the opportunity to pick up their mother's microbiome from the vaginal canal, as other mammals do during birth. This means the pseudo-pouch ecosystem is where puggles, without a functioning immune system, first encounter bacteria and other pathogens. But little is known about how it works. To understand this better, biologists collected samples of pseudo-pouch microbiomes by swabbing 22 different echidnas at different stages of their reproductive cycle. Some were live animals at Taronga Zoo, and some were wild echidnas killed by traffic on Kangaroo Island and around the Adelaide Hills. The biologists collected swabs from echidnas during and outside of breeding season, and others who were lactating. "During lactation, pseudo-pouch microbial communities show significant differences in composition compared with samples taken outside of breeding season or during courtship and mating," Wilson says. "This suggests that the echidna pseudo-pouch environment changes during lactation to accommodate young that lack a functional adaptive immune system." The bacteria phylum Firmicutes became more dominant in the pseudo-pouches of lactating echidnas, while Bdellovibrionota and Verrucomicrobiota numbers dropped. In lactating echidnas, the relative abundance of more than half the bacteria genera found in the echidna pseudo-pouch was reduced, suggesting something had killed them off. Wilson and her team also found that in non-lactating echidnas, the pseudo-pouch microbiome was functionally the same regardless of whether it was breeding season or not, or whether they were wild or captive. This suggests it's not a factor in the relatively low survival rate of captive-bred young. "We were surprised to find no major difference in the pseudo-pouch between zoo-managed and wild animals, which suggests to us that the milk, rather than external environmental factors like captivity, is what primarily shapes the bacterial landscape of the pseudo-pouch," Wilson says. The next question is how echidna milk changes the pseudo-pouch microbiome on a molecular level, and how biologists, zoos, and wildlife carers can use all this information to better support echidna breeding. This research was published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology. Bizarre Three-Eyed Predator Hunted The Ocean Half a Billion Years Ago Earth's Rotation Is Slowing Down, And It Might Explain Why We Have Oxygen New Jersey Hawk Develops Clever Hunting Strategy Using Traffic Signals
