2023-10-11 09:46:25
Breaking News: Transplanting Healthy Microbes Holds Promise for Treating Chronic Illnesses
October 10, 2023, 3:29 p.m. – Recent breakthroughs in cancer medicine have highlighted the potential of transplanting healthy microbes to treat chronic diseases. Researchers have found that the collection of microbes in our intestines plays a crucial role in determining our health and wellbeing.
In a groundbreaking study at the University Hospital of Cologne, infectiologist Maria Vehreschild has built a collection of stool samples from particularly healthy donors. These samples, stored in a freezer at minus 80 degrees, contain trillions of microbes that can revive and colonize the intestines of the recipients when thawed.
Transplanting these microbial communities in the form of capsules has shown promising results in treating chronic intestinal infections and inflammations, as well as autoimmune diseases and even cancer. The aim of the treatment is to introduce healthy bacteria, fungi, and viruses into the gut ecosystem, redirecting the immune system and potentially leading to healing.
While these therapeutic successes have generated excitement and hope, Maria Vehreschild remains cautious. She explains that there is still much unknown about the microbiome and its impact on our health. Tests and self-analyses claiming to provide individualized recommendations based on a person’s intestinal flora are viewed skeptically by Vehreschild. Without sufficient scientific evidence, she warns against basing medical decisions on such tests.
Probiotics, which are either prebiotics or the bacteria themselves, have gained popularity as dietary supplements. However, Vehreschild points out that the health-promoting effects of these supplements have not been conclusively proven through studies.
In the case of fecal transplants, the procedure has shown success in treating Clostridioides difficile infections. This method is typically used as a last resort when other therapies have failed. However, Vehreschild clarifies that in Germany, the procedure is only allowed as a therapeutic attempt and not yet approved as a drug. Similar legal regulations in other countries classify stool transplants as transplants rather than drugs, making their use more straightforward.
The potential of fecal transplants in cancer treatment has been highlighted by two small Israeli studies involving patients with advanced black skin cancer. The studies showed that after transplants from donors who responded to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, the treatment became effective in a proportion of patients who previously did not respond.
While such successes are encouraging, Vehreschild advises caution and stresses that the field of microbial transplantation still requires more research and understanding. Nevertheless, she sees great opportunities for chronically ill individuals on the horizon.
Finding suitable donors for stool samples is a complex process, involving questionnaires, blood tests, and stool examinations to ensure the absence of disease-causing bacteria. Donors are continuously screened, and factors such as recent antibiotic use or exposure to multi-resistant pathogens can disqualify them.
The potential of using one’s own stool for transplantation, similar to donating blood, is being considered as an alternative to using samples from strangers. However, further research and regulation are needed before this becomes a common practice.
As the understanding of the gut microbiome deepens, the transplantation of healthy microbes holds significant promise for revolutionizing the treatment of chronic diseases. While more research is required, the recent successes in cancer medicine and other fields highlight the potential for transformative therapies in the future.]
#Healing #gut #Bacteria #therapy #cancer #inflammation #infections