Immunization Against Flagellin as a Way to Beneficially Alter Aging Gut Microbiota Populations

The microbial populations of the gut make a significant contribution to health via secreted metabolites and interactions with the immune system. Starting in mid-life, these populations alter for the worse, and this is thought to influence the progression of aging - perhaps primarily as a contributing cause of chronic inflammation. How this effect size compares with those resulting from dietary and exercise choices is an open question, but it isn't unreasonable to suggest it to be in the same ballpark as exercise. What can be done to improve this situation? Supplementation with metabolites produced in larger amounts in youth, perhaps. Known options include tryptophan, indole, butyrate, and propionate, but there are no doubt many others as yet uncatalogued. Fecal microbiota transplants from young animals to old animals have been shown to reverse age-related changes in microbial populations and consequently extend life in short-lived species. This seems the best option of those on the table. There are others, however. As an example, the work here is quite clever, building upon a point of difference between beneficial and harmful gut microbes in order to steer the immune system to preferentially attack those harmful microbes and thus control their population size and impact on health. The intestinal tract is colonized by billions of bacteria and other microorganisms that play numerous beneficial roles, but improperly controlled microbiota can lead to chronic infla...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs