Latest news with #Ruminococcaceae
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Health
- The Mainichi
Japan research team discovers new gut bacterium that boosts cancer immunotherapy
TOKYO -- A Japanese research team led by the National Cancer Center Japan announced in the British journal Nature on June 14 that it has discovered a new type of gut bacterium that enhances the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy drugs, raising hopes for the development of new treatments that further strengthen the immune response against cancer. Cancer immunotherapy leverages the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. One class of drugs, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors -- including PD-1 inhibitors such as Opdivo -- works by releasing the "brakes" that cancer uses to evade immune cell attacks, thereby restoring the immune system's natural ability to target tumors. However, even when used in combination with other treatments, checkpoint inhibitors are effective in only about 20% of patients over the long term. Previous studies have shown that transplanting stool from patients who responded well to these drugs into non-responders can improve outcomes, suggesting that gut bacteria play a key role. Until now, the mechanism by which gut bacteria influence cancers located far from the intestines, such as in the lungs, was not well understood. The research team found that patients who responded well to immunotherapy had high levels of a type of gut bacterium from the Ruminococcaceae family. These patients experienced longer-lasting treatment effects and had more T cells -- immune cells that attack cancer -- present within their tumors. The team identified this bacterium as a new strain, named YB328. In mouse experiments, administering both checkpoint inhibitors and YB328 led to tumor shrinkage, and even when YB328 was given together with stool transplanted from non-responders, the drug's effectiveness improved. Further investigation revealed that YB328 activates dendritic cells -- immune system "commanders" that orchestrate immune responses -- in the gut. These dendritic cells then travel from the intestines to distant tumor sites, where they activate nearby T cells and enhance the immune attack on cancer. Hiroyoshi Nishikawa, head of the Cancer Immunology division at the National Cancer Center Research Institute, commented, "Not only could administering this bacterium to (drug) non-responders improve outcomes, but adding it to responders' treatment regimens may further boost effectiveness."
Japan Times
14-07-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Japan researchers identify gut bacteria strain that boosts anticancer drugs
The gut microbiome, comprising over 100 trillion bacteria in the intestines, is known to play a vital role in human health, affecting the immune system, heart function and weight. Now, researchers at the National Cancer Center Japan say they have discovered how a previously unknown group of gut bacteria can boost the efficacy of a class of anticancer drugs. In a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature, NCCJ researchers said this bacteria group, which they named YB328, was found to improve the performance of cancer therapies called immune checkpoint inhibitors. Several such immunotherapy drugs, such as Opdivo and Keytruda, have been launched over the past decade and are used for a broad range of advanced cancers, boosting the long-term survival of some patients. But their response rate is currently at around 20%, meaning they don't work for the majority of people who receive them. The researchers analyzed stool samples from 50 patients with lung and stomach cancer who underwent checkpoint inhibitor therapies, examining the performance of the drugs for each patient and their gut microbiome. The genomic analysis showed that a group whose therapies worked had higher ratios of bacteria belonging to the Ruminococcaceae family, while those who didn't see improvement after checkpoint inhibitor therapies had higher ratios of other types of bacteria. The median number of days that patients managed to keep their disease from worsening was 119 for those with high Ruminococcaceae ratios and 38 for those whose Ruminococcaceae ratios were low. The researchers also isolated the YB328 strain of the Ruminococcaceae family from the patients' feces, then cultured and administered the bacteria to mice. They found that the strain activated dendritic cells, which are immune cells that capture pathogens and cancer cells and instruct other cells to attack them. Furthermore, the activated dendritic cells were observed to move to lymph tissues and tumor cells, triggering the antitumor response by T cells, a type of white blood cell that helps fight cancer, the researchers said. 'Not only have we succeeded in finding a new group of bacteria that affects the efficacy of anticancer drugs, but we have also made clear how these gut bacteria affect the immune environment of tumors far away from the intestines,' said Hiroyuki Mano, head of the research institute at NCCJ, adding that the researchers see both discoveries as significant. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that, instead of attacking cancer cells directly, allow the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. The inhibitors block proteins on immune cells that act like 'brakes' on the immune system. The scientists think that adding YB328 to the gut microbiome would improve the chances of immune cells switching off the brakes. The researchers are working closely with ARC Therapies, an NCCJ spinoff, which is eying a clinical trial of an oral drug based on YB328. But it will be years before the bacteria become available as a medication, as many questions remain unresolved, such as what component of the bacteria is responsible for the boosted T cell response and the suitable doses for humans, Mano said.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OCD May Start in the Gut, Not the Brain, Surprising New Study Finds
Obsessive-compulsive disorder has long been considered a problem of the brain, but new research suggests the real driver might be hiding in the gut. A team of scientists from Chongqing Medical University in China has uncovered a surprising link between gut bacteria and OCD, a chronic condition affecting up to 3 percent of people worldwide. Their findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, point to specific microbes in the digestive system that may help cause or prevent the disorder, redefining how we think about its origins and how it might one day be treated. The researchers used a method called Mendelian randomization to connect the dots between genes, gut bacteria, and OCD. By analyzing data from over 217,000 people, they were able to isolate six types of gut bacteria linked to the condition. Three—Bacillales, Eubacterium, and Lachnospiraceae UCG001—were associated with increased risk. The other three—Proteobacteria, Ruminococcaceae, and Bilophila—appeared to play a protective role. 'Specific gut microbiota might have a causal relationship with OCD,' the study authors wrote, noting this is the first research to strengthen the case for direct causality between bacteria and OCD rather than a mere association. That distinction matters. Because genes are set at birth, this method helps rule out outside influences like diet or lifestyle, making it more likely that these microbes are directly involved in OCD development, not just of these bacteria have been tied to mental health before. Low levels of Ruminococcaceae, for example, have also been observed in people with depression. Taken together, the findings underscore the profound impact of the gut-brain axis, an internal feedback loop that science is only beginning to fully comprehend. OCD is often treated with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and SSRIs, but those approaches don't work for everyone. In fact, 25 to 40 percent of patients see little or no benefit. This new research hints at future therapies that may involve targeting gut bacteria instead of, or in addition to, brain chemistry. 'Despite the utilization of standard treatments, many patients experience suboptimal or no response,' the researchers noted. 'The personal and societal toll of OCD is substantial.' For now, the findings raise more questions than answers, but they open the door to a radical new understanding of one of mental health's most stubborn May Start in the Gut, Not the Brain, Surprising New Study Finds first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 8, 2025
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OCD's Origins Might Not Lie in The Brain Like We Thought
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects up to 3 percent of people worldwide and remains one of the most challenging mental health conditions to treat effectively. That makes any fresh insight into OCD's root causes especially valuable – like a new study pointing to a surprising suspect: the bacteria living in our gut. The research from China explored how the gut microbiota – the complex community of bacteria that live in the digestive system – may influence whether a person develops OCD, and identified six types of bacteria that appear to be linked with the condition. A steady stream of studies has shown close connections between the brain and the gut, but this is the first to provide compelling evidence that gut bacteria may actually help cause it. The researchers used genetic data to strengthen the case for causation. Related: "Previous studies have indicated a potential link between the gut microbiota and OCD," write the researchers from Chongqing Medical University in their published paper. "However, the exact causal relationship remains uncertain." "Our analysis suggested that specific gut microbiota might have a causal relationship with OCD, revealing potential intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of this disorder." To explore this link, the researchers used a genetic approach known as Mendelian randomization, which allows scientists to infer causality by analyzing genetic variants that influence both OCD and gut bacteria. They assessed links between genetic data and gut bacteria in a sample of 18,340 people, and the links between genetic data and OCD in a separate sample of 199,169 people. Although these were two discrete sets of data, the study used Mendelian randomization to essentially bridge the gap and connect gut bacteria patterns with OCD. Because our genes are fixed at birth and not shaped by environment or lifestyle, this method helps strengthen the case that gut bacteria might directly contribute to OCD, rather than just being an effect of it. However, more data and more controlled experiments will be needed to confirm a causal link. Three types of bacteria appeared to be protective against OCD: Proteobacteria, Ruminococcaceae, and Bilophila. Another three seemed to increase the risk of OCD: Bacillales, Eubacterium, and Lachnospiraceae UCG001. Interestingly, many of these bacteria have been linked with the brain before. For example, previous studies have found a connection between low levels of Ruminococcaceae species and depression. These findings expand what we already know about the gut-brain axis and how one can affect the other. "Future research should employ longitudinal designs and diverse populations to validate and expand upon these findings, as well as a more in-depth classification of microbes and their metabolic products, to further understand the role of gut microbiota in OCD," write the researchers. Down the line – and it's still a way off – we may have a new way to treat or prevent OCD, by controlling gut bacteria mixtures. For people living with the condition – and the families, friends, and clinicians who support them – this could eventually offer new hope. "Despite the utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in OCD treatment, a notable 25–40 percent of patients experience suboptimal or no response to these interventions," write the researchers. "Moreover, the personal and societal toll of OCD is substantial." The research has been published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. The News Cycle Is a Stress Monster. But There's a Healthy Way to Stay Informed. Surprise Discovery About Sugar in The Brain Could Help Fight Alzheimer's Air Pollution 'Strongly Associated' With DNA Mutations Tied to Lung Cancer
