Click here to get your very own custom microbial dictionary for Microsoft Office! As I was writing up my next blog post, I noticed that a whole series of next-generation probiotic species (hint hint!) were lined in red on my Word documents. I had already installed a custom medical dictionary into Microsoft Office that provided...

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Forest fires adversely impact the soil environment The year 2022 has seen hearing news of forest fires ravaging the US and Europe. On top of destroying homes and releasing excess carbon dioxide into the air, forest fires can have devastating impacts on soil. Severe forest fires increase the risk of soil erosion, reduce soil nutrient...

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The question: Could white-tailed deer be a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir in North America? A year ago, I wrote an article about white-tailed deer becoming a possible SARS-CoV-2 reservoir in North America. In that study, the researchers showed diverse deer populations having SARS-CoV-2 infections across Northern USA. Contact with humans at wildlife reserves and parks had encouraged...

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Metabolic syndrome is a condition comprising a combination of metabolic disorders such as obesity, dyslipidemia (imbalances in fatty acid levels), hyperglycemia (too much glucose in the blood), and hypertension. Metabolic syndrome affects more than 30% of US adults and having it increases the risk of other diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease...

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Wow, how time flies! It’s already been over two weeks since I attended Global Engage’s microbiome and probiotics conference. The two-day event was packed with riveting talks and bountiful networking opportunities. Amid a sea of talks and discussions, a massive deluge of updates in microbiome, probiotics, and live biotherapeutic product (LBP) R&D stood in the...

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The human gut microbiome comprises a community of microbes that changes over time and impact health in many ways. But where do these microbes come from? The prevailing hypothesis is that the mother plays an important role. Whether the transfer occurs in the uterus, continuously during and after birth, or both remains under debate. Nevertheless,...

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Fermented foods have been an integral component of human diets since ancient times. These foods contained live microorganisms, some of which were developed as probiotics to confer human health benefits when ingested in sufficient quantities. However, probiotics aren’t the only way to promote human health. As I discussed in my previous blog post, prebiotics are...

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Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the process where fecal matter is administered as a liquid solution from a donor to a recipient’s gut. While FMT is being tested as a treatment option for a wide range of gut diseases, the regimen was first used to treat Clostridium difficile gut infections. Gut infections by this pathogen...

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Here we are. We are exactly one week away from Global Engage’s probiotic conference in Miami. I am brimming with excitement at how close we are to being at the meeting place of probiotic and microbiome R&D. The opportunity to watch thought leaders discuss the future of the industry was the very thing that drove...

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The banner say it all! I’m going to attend the 10th Microbiome & 7th Probiotics R&D & Business Collaboration Forum! During this 2-day conference, I will be a VIP guest, soaking in the knowledge of the pioneers of probiotic research and development (R&D). I’ll be attending as many talks as I can, taking in the...

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