When we think of viruses and bacteria, we generally think of nasty, invading pathogens that we want nowhere near our bodies. However, a large amount of research has found that beneficial bacteria is absolutely essential to our gut environment, and our health.
Now, researchers from the NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered evidence that gut viruses may be just as important to our health as gut bacteria.
The environment within our gut is known as the microbiome, and it is there that both beneficial and harmful gut bacteria (and, as this study shows, viruses) dwell. A healthy balance of gut bacteria has been linked to digestive health, immune system health, allergy protection and longevity. Hence, the importance of probiotic foods.
To test the positive or negative effects of gut viruses, a team of Langone microbiologists performed a series of mouse studies – work that took two years to finish. Specifically, they tested the effects of murine norovirus (MNV) on the mice, some of which had their gut bacteria (and therefore, their immunity) depleted, and some that were treated with antibiotics. MNV is the mouse version of a virus that causes nausea in humans.
Results of the study showed that the MNV virus helped the mice with the compromised immune systems to regain their immunities. The virus was also found to aid in the reparation of inflamed intestinal tissue. In the mice who had been given antibiotics, the MNV was found to protect against tissue overgrowth from ulcers, and protect against fluid buildup; all gut-protective effects.
According to Ken Cadwell, the study’s senior investigator, “our research offers compelling data about the mutually supportive relationship between viruses and bacteria in the mouse gut and lays the groundwork for further research on precisely how the virome supports the immune system, which likely applies to humans, as well.”
Cadwell added, “we have known for a long time that people get infected all the time with viruses and bacteria, and they don’t get sick. Now we have scientific evidence that not every viral infection is bad, but may actually be beneficial to health, just as we know that many bacterial infections are good for maintaining health.”
Are healthy gut virus supplements next? Stay tuned.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141119132454.htm
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/gut-viruses-join-gut-bacteria-fight-keep-us-healthy
http://communications.med.nyu.edu/media-relations/news/natural-gut-viruses-join-bacterial-cousins-maintaining-health-and-fighting-infe
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13960.html
https://www.thealternativedaily.com/healthy-gut-bacteria-linked-longevity
