Antibiotics
Episodes
In this clip, Dr. Eran Elinav explains the new field of bacteriophages and how they could be combined with probiotics to generate personalized therapies.
In this clip, Dr. Eran Elinav discusses the importance of the early childhood period in shaping a healthy microbiome.
In this clip, Dr. Roger Seheult discusses concerns about whether vaccines were rushed or can lead to more harmful forms of the virus.
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In this clip, Dr. Eran Elinav explains the new field of bacteriophages and how they could be combined with probiotics to generate personalized therapies.
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In this clip, Dr. Eran Elinav discusses the importance of the early childhood period in shaping a healthy microbiome.
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In this clip, Dr. Roger Seheult discusses concerns about whether vaccines were rushed or can lead to more harmful forms of the virus.
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Rhonda Vitamin D Brain Cancer Epigenetics Aging Hormones Diabetes Vitamin C Antibiotics Vitamin K Sulforaphane Sauna Glutathione Oxidative Stress NAD+ CardiovascularDr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.
Topic Pages
News & Publications
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Microplastics in wastewater may drive a 171-fold increase in antibiotic resistance in E. coli. journals.asm.org
Microplastics may be more than environmental pollutants—they could contribute to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria. These tiny plastic fragments persist in wastewater, providing surfaces where bacteria congregate, form biofilms, and exchange genetic material that enhances antibiotic resistance. A recent study found that Escherichia coli cultured on microplastics were 171 times more resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin than those grown on glass.
Researchers exposed E. coli to different types of microplastics—polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene—at varying concentrations and sizes. They measured the bacteria’s survival rates and assessed whether they developed resistance to four common antibiotics: ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and streptomycin. They also compared bacterial behavior on microplastics versus glass to determine how different surfaces influenced biofilm formation.
Bacteria attached to microplastics formed stronger biofilms and exhibited higher antibiotic resistance than those grown on glass. The water-repellant nature of the plastics, combined with their ability to attract and retain other substances, likely contributed to this effect. Bacteria grown in the presence of antibiotics and microplastics showed considerably greater resistance, with those exposed to ciprofloxacin displaying up to 171 times greater resistance and other antibiotics showing increases of up to 75 times.
These findings suggest that microplastics serve as breeding grounds for antibiotic resistance, potentially increasing the risk of persistent infections in environmental and healthcare settings. Addressing microplastic pollution may be crucial in slowing the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Learn how to limit your exposure to microplastics in this episode featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
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Mid-life long duration antibiotic use of >= two months linked to poorer scores in cognition, learning, working memory, and attention in later life www.sciencealert.com
Antibiotic use in midlife increases a person’s risk for neuropsychiatric diseases.
Antibiotics are prescribed for a wide range of infectious diseases. In 2015, healthcare providers in the United States wrote nearly 270 million antibiotic prescriptions – more than 800 antibiotic prescriptions for every 1,000 people. Health experts estimate that 30 percent of these prescriptions were likely unnecessary. Findings from a new study suggest that antibiotic use in midlife increases a person’s risk for neuropsychiatric diseases.
The study included approximately 15,000 midlife participants (average age, 55 years) enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II, an ongoing prospective cohort study of female nurses. The participants completed questionnaires regarding their general health, diet, lifestyle, and medication use during the previous four years, including antibiotic use and the reason for which the antibiotic was prescribed. The investigators categorized the participants' cumulative antibiotic use as none, one to 14 days, 15 days to two months, and two months or more. Participants also completed a battery of neuropsychological tests.
The investigators found that participants who took antibiotics for at least two months over the previous four years were more likely to perform worse on neuropsychological tests than participants who did not take antibiotics. The influence of antibiotic use on neuropsychological test scores was roughly equivalent to three to four years of aging. These findings held true even after considering other factors that could influence cognitive function, including age and coexisting illnesses.
These findings suggest that longer exposure to antibiotics in midlife negatively influences cognitive health, underscoring the importance of moderating antibiotic use in older adults. They also support findings from animal studies that suggest antibiotic use early in life alters neuropeptide signaling pathways that influence behavioral development. Learn more about the effects of antibiotic use in early life in this clip featuring Dr. Eran Elinav.
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Antibiotics increase risk of some colorectal cancers, but protect against others. www.sciencedaily.com
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and is responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths per year worldwide. Previous evidence has demonstrated an association between antibiotic use and colorectal cancer, which is troubling given rising antibiotic use; however, further research is needed to better understand this association. Authors of a recent report found that antibiotic use increased the risk of proximal colon cancer, but decreased the risk of rectal cancer in females.
Colorectal cancers occur in three zones - the proximal colon, composed of the first two segments of the large intestine; the distal colon, composed of the second two segments of the large intestine; and the rectum. Most colon cancers occur in the proximal colon with distal colon and rectal cancers more common in males and in adults younger than 50 years. More than half of all colorectal cancer cases are attributable to modifiable risk factors such as smoking, diet, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and possibly medication.
The gut microbiota is composed of the community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that live in the human intestine, and its composition is highly sensitive to changes in lifestyle and use of medications. Antibiotics suppress the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in addition to pathogens, causing long term disruption of the gut ecosystem. Use of antibiotics may result in chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis due to overgrowth of pathogens such as Clostridium difficile; however, additional research is needed to understand the difference between classes of antibiotics and the effects of dose and duration.
The authors collected data regarding colorectal cancer incidence and antibiotic use from the Swedish national population register. They compared data between more than 40,000 participants with colorectal cancer and more than 200,000 participants without colorectal cancer who were matched for age, sex, and home county. The researchers collected additional data about the participants, such as country of origin, socioeconomic status, and healthcare utilization. All data were collected between the years of 2005 and 2016.
Moderate use of antibiotics (defined as use between 11 and 60 days) was associated with a 15 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to no use. Very high use of antibiotics (defined as use greater than 180 days) was associated with a 17 percent increased risk compared to no use. However, these associations were no longer statistically significant when the investigators removed data regarding antibiotic use in the two years prior to cancer diagnosis. They removed this data to account for reverse causation, meaning use of antibiotics for illnesses caused by cancer. Excluding this data, the investigators found that moderate and very-high antibiotic use was significantly associated with proximal colorectal cancer. Surprisingly, antibiotic use decreased the risk of rectal cancer in females. This decreased risk was not present for proximal or distal colon cancers. Finally, the researchers found that the antibiotic classes quinolones, sulfonamides, and trimethoprims were most associated with proximal colon cancer, while nitrofurantoins, macrolides, and lincosamides were protective against rectal cancer.
This large study demonstrates a relationship between increased antibiotic use and higher risk of proximal colon cancer. Surprisingly, some antibiotics may be protective against rectal cancer.
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A very-low-calorie diet increases harmful gut bacteria. www.sciencedaily.com
The gut microbiota is composed of the community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that live in the human intestine and is unique to each individual. Diet can modulate the structure and function of the gut microbiota in ways that either increase or decrease disease risk. Findings of a new report detail the effects of a very-low-calorie diet on the gut microbiota, weight loss, and infection risk.
Following the absorption of most macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) present in food in the small intestine, undigested food travels to the large intestine where microbes metabolize any remaining nutrients. The amount and type of food consumed in the diet directly affect the amount and type of microbes that can flourish in the large intestine. Consuming a wide variety of foods in the diet supports a wide variety of microbes, while restricting certain foods or restricting caloric intake may reduce the abundance and diversity of the microbiota, a risk factor for disease.
The authors of the report recruited 80 females who had completed menopause and who had overweight or obesity. They randomized participants to complete a medically supervised weight-loss program or to maintain a stable weight for 16 weeks. Participants in the weight-loss program consumed a very-low-calorie diet (800 calories per day) for eight weeks, followed by four weeks of a conventional low-calorie diet and four weeks of a weight maintenance diet. The researchers sequenced DNA from the participants' gut microbiota to determine the number and type of microbes present. Finally, they collected gut microbiota samples from the baseline and 12-week timepoints from the participants who lost the most weight during the weight loss program. They transplanted these samples into germ-free mice, which lack a microbiota.
Participants in the weight-loss program lost an average of 14 percent of their body weight (about 27 pounds) after 12 weeks. A very-low-calorie diet reduced the abundance and diversity of microbes in the gut, but these changes were reversed when participants returned to a normal diet. Microbiota samples from the participants in the very-low-calorie diet intervention were enriched in Clostridioides difficile, a gastrointestinal pathogen (commonly referred to as “C. diff.”). This increase was associated with a reduction in the production of bile acids, which aid in dietary fat digestion and are protective against gastrointestinal pathogens. Mice that received a microbiota transplant from the very-low-calorie diet timepoint lost significantly more body weight due to changes in microbiota structure and reduced nutrient absorption, compared to mice that received a microbiota transplant from baseline.
This research highlights the importance of diet in the interplay between pathogenic and beneficial microbes in the gut microbiota.
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The trillions of microbes that inhabit the human intestine, known collectively as the gut microbiota, play critical roles in health. Research demonstrates that the microbiota provides protection against infections by preventing pathogenic colonization in the gut. Findings from a new study indicate that taurine facilitates the gut microbiota’s immune response to infection.
Maintaining a “friendly” population of gut microbes is essential for good health. An imbalance in the number of harmful versus helpful microbes, a condition known as dysbiosis, drives many disease states, including cardiovascular disease, allergies, asthma, and obesity.
Taurine is an amino acid produced in the body and present in many foods. It plays roles in fat metabolism and many other physiological processes. Taurine breaks down to form hydrogen sulfide, a gas that promotes cardiovascular health and may be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Low taurine levels promote pathogenic colonization of the human gut, but high levels help resist it.
The authors of the study used two groups of mice (normal and germ-free) to better understand how the microbiota influences resistance to colonization. They subjected the normal mice to a mild infection. After the mice recovered, the investigators transferred bacteria from the guts of the recovered mice to the germ-free mice and infected both groups of mice again. They found that the first mild infection primed the gut microbiota to resist colonization associated with a second infection.
Next, they gave the mice either taurine or bismuth subsalicylate (the primary ingredient in many antidiarrheal medicines) in their drinking water for two to three weeks. They subjected the mice to another infection and again measured the response. They found that taurine improved the microbial resistance to pathogenic colonization, but bismuth subsalicylate diminished it due to its capacity to inhibit hydrogen sulfide production.
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A 2008 article by Dr. Anthony Fauci identifies pneumonia as primary cause of death for 1918 pandemic victims, raising alarm about future pandemics. www.sciencedaily.com
The global influenza pandemic of 1918 was the deadliest in history, claiming the lives of more than 50 million people worldwide. Although the cause of the outbreak has been attributed to infection from the H1N1 virus, a 2008 study co-authored by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, suggested the primary cause of death among those infected was pneumonia.
Fauci and his colleagues conducted an extensive review of the scientific literature detailing the pathological and bacteriological evidence regarding the pandemic, derived from the findings of more than 8,000 autopsies. Then they examined preserved lung tissue samples from 58 of those autopsies to determine the cause of death.
They found that the death rate followed an age-specific, W-shaped curve, with the highest peaks occurring among infants and elderly people and a slightly lower peak occurring among young adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. Examination of the tissue samples revealed that severe acute bacterial pneumonia was present in nearly every case as either the primary pathological feature or coincidental to other features commonly associated with influenza infection, including serious injury to the tissues of the respiratory tract.
The primary pathogens identified in the samples were pneumococci, streptococci, and staphylococci – bacteria that commonly reside in the throat and upper respiratory tract and typically pose no harm. However, the injurious tissue changes that accompanied the primary viral infection created an environment conducive to secondary bacterial infection and subsequent pneumonia. Also present in the samples were Bacillus influenzae, bacteria that often facilitate the infiltration of other pneumonia-causing bacteria.
Taken together, these findings suggest that pandemic preparedness should include the stockpiling of antibiotics and bacterial vaccines.
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Bacteroides fragilis metabolises exopolysaccharides produced by bifidobacteria www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
One downside w/ probiotics. “Bacteroides fragilis metabolises exopolysaccharides produced by bifidobacteria” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4946188/
and fragilis fuels colon cancer https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/health/colon-cancer-bacteria.html?ref=todayspaper
“Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis harbor colonic biofilms containing tumorigenic bacteria” http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6375/592
the same fragilis is antibiotic resistant Antimicrobial resistance in the Bacteroides fragilis group in faecal samples from patients receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28445776
the same fragilis may or may not cause symptoms Dientamoeba fragilis colonization is not associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in children at primary care level. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27784723
Dientamoeba fragilis: A Family Cluster of Disease Associated With Marked Peripheral Eosinophilia https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/57/6/845/329548
This is one of the best articles highlighting this microbe ( w/ some contrary evidence from northern Europe). “Dientamoeba fragilis, the Neglected Trichomonad of the Human Bowel” https://cmr.asm.org/content/29/3/553
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Ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics that are known as fluoroquinolones may be associated with tendon rupture, tendonitis, and retinal detachment. Patients who received them had a higher risk for aneurysms than patients who did not receive the antibiotics.
Earlier this month the FDA added another update about the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics to include mental health issues. The mental health side effects to be included in the labeling across all the fluoroquinolones are disturbances in attention, disorientation, agitation, nervousness, memory impairment and delirium.
The previous FDA update warning was about potentially permanent side effects involving tendons, muscles, joints, nerves and the central nervous system.
The FDA stated: “Because the risk of these serious side effects generally outweighs the benefits for patients with acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and uncomplicated urinary tract infections fluoroquinolones should be reserved for use in patients with these conditions who have no alternative treatment options.”
FDA link: https://www.fda.gov/
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Disruption of maternal gut microbiota during gestation alters offspring microbiota and immunity | Microbiome | Full Text microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com
Early life microbiota is an important determinant of immune and metabolic development and may have lasting consequences. The maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy or breastfeeding is important for defining infant gut microbiota. We hypothesized that maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a critical determinant of infant immunity. To test this, pregnant BALB/c dams were fed vancomycin for 5 days prior to delivery (gestation; Mg), 14 days postpartum during nursing (Mn), or during gestation and nursing (Mgn), or no vancomycin (Mc). We analyzed adaptive immunity and gut microbiota in dams and pups at various times after delivery.
Results - In addition to direct alterations to maternal gut microbial composition, pup gut microbiota displayed lower α-diversity and distinct community clusters according to timing of maternal vancomycin. Vancomycin was undetectable in maternal and offspring sera, therefore the observed changes in the microbiota of stomach contents (as a proxy for breastmilk) and pup gut signify an indirect mechanism through which maternal intestinal microbiota influences extra-intestinal and neonatal commensal colonization. These effects on microbiota influenced both maternal and offspring immunity. Maternal immunity was altered, as demonstrated by significantly higher levels of both total IgG and IgM in Mgn and Mn breastmilk when compared to Mc. In pups, lymphocyte numbers in the spleens of Pg and Pn were significantly increased compared to Pc. This increase in cellularity was in part attributable to elevated numbers of both CD4+ T cells and B cells, most notable Follicular B cells.
Conclusion - Our results indicate that perturbations to maternal gut microbiota dictate neonatal adaptive immunity.
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Great comment from HackerNews user yannibuk:
What’s interesting is that a big driver for this is social media. I was at a conference once & the CEO of Perdue listed this as a top driver behind this movement. He justified it this way: imagine that it costs an extra $0.01 per pound to create chicken meat that is antibiotic free. If the profit margin was $0.05 per pound that would cut profits by 20%. Today, negative PR on Facebook or Twitter can quickly spread to erode the value of a brand far more than $0.01 per pound of cost savings. He said that the reason for the switch is driven by consumers, who are now empowered by social media. From a nutrition tech standpoint there are a number of products including probiotics, beta glucans & others that help to protect the birds by boosting immune system activity rather than by killing bacteria. When used in combination with vaccines they can be very effective, albeit slightly more expensive. However, these ingredients add cost & come at a metabolic cost to the animal (i.e. it takes more food to produce 1 pound of meat if more of that energy is directed towards a functioning immune system & away from weight gain).
Animal nutrition science is in many ways more advanced than human nutrition due to the ability to conduct controlled studies and access to large amounts of data. However, the goals are very different.
Animals account for ~80% of antibiotic usage in the U.S. and MRSA now kills more people in the U.S. than HIV. It’s an interesting topic.
Makes you sort of think twice about “ag gag” laws coming into play in some states.