Gut bacteria affect chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Dr. Omri Koren talks about microbiome research
By: Yair Ron, Bar Ilan University
The bacteria are everywhere in our body," explains Dr. Koren, "on the skin, in the mouth, in the genitals and, of course, in the digestive system. In each organ live side by side different populations that affect us differently, and in total there are thousands of species. This is a whole universe, which has rightly earned its own nickname - microbiome. I fell in love with the subject already in the microbiology course in my undergraduate studies. By the way, when I started working in the field, the word 'microbiome' had not yet been invented."
In his doctoral thesis, Dr. Koren studied the bleaching phenomenon that harms corals. "In every coral there are three parallel kingdoms: the cells of the coral itself, the layer of algae that surrounds and nourishes it, and the population of bacteria that lives within it. We knew the bleaching was related to ocean warming, but we didn't understand how. We discovered that those responsible are bacteria that became aggressive as a survival response to the increase in temperature. "To our surprise, during the research it became clear that some of the corals were no longer sick. They have developed resistance to bacteria by recruiting good bacteria. At the same time, studies on the relationship between the microbiome and the obesity process also began to be published. I realized that something big is happening here. Until then, science looked at bacteria as individuals - as a problem, while I aspired to see them as a population - and as a solution."
In a study on obesity, mice that were raised in a sterile environment were examined and in their digestive system, feces from mice with and without an obesity mutation was implanted. The mice, all with the same genetic load, got fat or thin accordingly. "Today fecal transplantation is considered the last word in Western medicine and has even been approved by the FDA" smiles Dr. Koren, "in China it has been known since the fourth century. It is also common in Europe for hundreds of years among veterinarians. The idea is to stimulate physiological processes by changing the composition of the bacterial population in the body."
Dr. Koren's postdoctoral thesis deals with "healthy" obesity, which appears in pregnant women and is relatively easy to get rid of, compared to "unhealthy" obesity. The study revealed that despite the great similarity between the symptoms, the body reacts differently in both cases. The hypothesis is that in a pregnant woman the body somehow changes the population of bacteria. Today, Dr. Koren is conducting follow-up research, in collaboration with Beilinson Hospital, which can help in early detection and prevention of complications such as diabetes and preeclampsia. "It is possible that in the future we will be able to predict already in the first trimester of pregnancy if the woman is prone to complications."
Dr. Koren's research focuses on body secretions. This matter is sometimes seen as something shameful and dirty. When Dr. Koren is asked if it doesn't bother him, he is surprised at the very question, but understands where it comes from: "First of all, I don't feel that way. vice versa. I am dealing with something that is at the forefront of scientific research, and I feel that the whole world of science is waiting impatiently to see what our next discovery will be. Just a decade ago this was a field that nobody was interested in, and today it is the hottest topic. However, the reluctance is familiar to us from our contacts with the public. People who would willingly agree to let us drain them of a liter of blood, find it difficult to assist in research that involves collecting feces and bringing it to us. We need large quantities, and sometimes it really holds us back."
Dr. Koren is very fond of his pet bacteria, and according to him, the wonders of the microbiome know no bounds. "The bacteria affect not only the body, but also the mind. Depression, for example, is accompanied by an inflammatory response that may be controlled by bacteria. In studies on fruit flies, it became clear that a simple treatment with antibiotics eliminates the bacteria - and changes behavior." "Of course, in humans everything is much more complicated," qualifies Dr. Koren, "in the flies only a few types of bacteria work, and in humans there are thousands. We know that bacteria are involved in hormone production, but this research is still in its infancy. However, the possibilities are unlimited: imagine we found a bacterium that produces serotonin, and we could replicate it in the body instead of swallowing Prozac."
Among his many occupations, Dr. Koren collaborates with nutritionist Uri Meir Chizik. Together they conquer, ferment and ferment, and among other things recreate ancient recipes, from Roman times, and learn how to utilize the properties of the bacteria involved in the processes known as probiotic bacteria. For those interested in experimenting with homemade pickles, he offers a tested recipe for pickled lemons: "Take 7-8 fresh lemons, washed and cut into quarters, 7 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled and whole, peeled and quartered onions, a little turmeric and ground cumin. Put everything in a sterilized jar of the appropriate size and fill with water in which we mixed a teaspoon of coarse salt for every glass of water, until the lemons are covered. Close, shake and leave outside for 3 months."
To watch Dr. Omri Koren's lecture on the microbiome
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