Specific Fungus Yields Information about the Development of Crohn’s Disease

            Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the digestive tract. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. The disease results from the immune system responding abnormally to gut microbial antigens. Previous studies have concentrated on the bacterial community in the intestines. The authors conducted studies that focused on the overlooked fungal community.

            The researchers analyzed fecal samples from patients with and without Crohn’s disease. The samples from those with Crohn’s disease contained strong fungal-bacterial interactions, specifically two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens) and one fungus (Candida tropicalis). Additionally, Candida tropicalis was more abundant in patients with Crohn’s disease than their relatives who did not have the disease. They also found that the abundance of beneficial bacteria decreased in Crohn’s disease patients.

            This study shows for the first time that bacterial species in the gut, as well as fungi, play a role in the disease. They discovered how the bacteria and fungi interact. Together, they form a biofilm, which is a thin, sticky layer of microorganisms. The film attaches to sections of the gut, which could be triggering the inflammation that causes the symptoms attributed to Crohn’s disease. The researchers also are the first to include Serratia marcescens as a contributor. In a previous study conducted by another research group (Ochieng et al.), S. marcescens was revealed to interact with epithelial cells of the intestine in cultures and produce effects that could play a large role in Crohn’s disease by worsening the episodes of inflammation in the intestine.

A person’s diet and environment also contribute to the microorganisms present in the intestines. However, the addition of new information regarding the role bacteria and fungi play in the development of Crohn’s disease opens the door for the development of new treatments. More research must be done, but as more is learned about the disease, more can be done to help those suffering from it.

Resources:

To learn more about Crohn’s disease visit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0022801/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160920151435.htm

References:

G. Hoarau, P. K. Mukherjee, C. Gower-Rousseau, C. Hager, J. Chandra, M. A. Retuerto, C. Neut, S. Vermeire, J. Clemente, J. F. Colombel, H. Fujioka, D. Poulain, B. Sendid and M. A. Ghannoum. Bacteriome and Mycobiome Interactions Underscore Microbial Dysbiosis in Familial Crohn’s Disease. mBio, September 2016 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01250-16

John B Ochieng, Nadia Boisen, Brianna Lindsay, Araceli Santiago, Collins Ouma, Maurice Ombok, Barry Fields, O Colin Stine, and James P Nataro. Serratia marcescens is injurious to intestinal epithelial cells. Gut Microbes. 5.6, 2014.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/19490976.2014.972223

The Use of Magnetic Bacteria in Drug Delivery

A recent article published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology shows that using magnetic bacteria could be a more successful method for delivering drugs to tumors. The major issue encountered when designing cancer therapies is finding a way to deliver chemotherapy drugs to only the tumors, keeping healthy tissues unaffected. Nanocarriers, which are small particles that transfer drugs, have been developed to do just that. As they circulate through the body, they target only the cancer cells. However, since they depend on the circulatory system to travel to the tumor, a large portion is filtered out of the body and never reaches the tumor. They also have trouble getting inside the tumor due to a difference in pressure between the tumor and its surrounding tissue. Therefore, the nanocarriers never reach the hypoxic zones of the tumor, which are the site of active cell division. These zones have very low oxygen content. If a procedure can be found to deliver the drugs to these regions, the metastasis rate will greatly decrease. That is what the authors set out to do.

            The researchers found that a bacteria known as magnetococcus marinus (MC-1), which is already present in nature, could be used since they thrive in areas of water with low oxygen. MC-1 contains a chain of magnetic nanocrystals, which work like the needle of a compass. When in the Northern Hemisphere, the nanocrystals cause the bacteria to travel in a northern direction. MC-1 is also comprised of sensors that can detect changes in oxygen levels. These two components aid the bacteria in finding the tumor and sustaining their location in the low oxygen area. Once reaching the tumor, the magnetic field is turned off. The bacteria then rely on the sensors to locate the hypoxic zones.

            Experiments were performed to test the use of MC-1 as a treatment for tumors. The study was conducted on mice, and they found that the bacterial cells were located deep inside the tumor, specifically in low oxygen areas. Then, the researchers attached vesicles, containing the drugs, to the cells to test their effect on penetration into the tumors. An estimated 55 % of the cells with attached vesicles successfully traveled into the tumor versus current nanocarriers only transporting about 2% of the drugs into the tumor. This exhibits the effectiveness of the method and proves promising for the treatment of tumors.

            The researchers plan to look at the effect of the bacterial cells on tumor size reduction. They also want to investigate if other types of cancer-killing medicines can be delivered via MC-1. This study provides advancements in current methods that have huge implications for those suffering from cancer. Drug delivery that specifically targets the tumors diminishes side effects and makes the treatment more successful. This research and future studies stemming from it will provide enormous potential for improved cancer treatment.

Reference:

Magneto-aerotactic bacteria deliver drug-containing nanoliposomes to tumour hypoxic regions. Felfoul O, Mohammadi M, Taherkhani S de Lanauze D, Zhong Xu Y, Loghin D, Essa S Jancik S, Houle D, Lafleur M, Gaboury L, Tabrizian M Kaou N, Atkin , Vuong T, Batist G, Beauchemin N, Radzioch D, Martel S. Nat Nanotechnol. 2016 Aug 15.

Link to the abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27525475

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Resource: http://www.nibib.nih.gov/news-events/newsroom/swarms-magnetic-bacteria-could-be-used-deliver-drugs-tumors

 

A Patient-Specific Approach to Treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Lung diseases are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one type of lung disease. This disease causes scarring on the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. There is no cure for IPF, and the shortage in human disease models has delayed advancements in available therapies. The study by Wilkinson et al introduces a method to create tissue-engineered organoids that can lead to a deeper understanding of the biology of the disease. The authors improve on previous methods of creating lung tissue by presenting a technique that generates patient-specific lung organoids, which can undergo high throughput screening. Lung organoids were formed using stem cells from adult lungs and alginate beads. The adhesion of the cells to the beads results in lung organoids that imitate actual lungs. The authors tested their engineered lung to see if it functioned like a real one, and they successfully found scarring on the lung organoid that resembled IPF. The researchers also found that organoids could be produced from other cell types.

Given the lack of available models, this research presents a significant breakthrough. The most valuable aspect of this method is that it is patient-specific. The disease affects each person differently, so one treatment can’t be used for everyone. Using the lung organoids, doctors can see how a patient’s body will react to different drugs and provide personalized treatment. Since the organoids can be generated so quickly, multiple drugs can be screened at once. This will provide faster determinations of the medication best suited for each patient. The quicker they can get the proper medication, the better.

This technique can be helpful for not only IPF, but other lung diseases as well. This type of research holds even further implications for the future, specifically for transplants. Patients could have a transplant of an organ that was created using their own cells. The patient would not have to be put on a list to wait for a donor organ to become available. It would also be safer because receiving an organ generated from the patient’s cells severely diminishes the chance his or her body will reject it.

Here is a link if you would like to read more about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis

 

Reference:
http://stemcellstm.alphamedpress.org/content/early/2016/09/14/sctm.2016-0192.short?rss=1

Alzheimer’s: A Prescription for Weed

What comes to mind when you see the word “dementia”? The term dementia refers to a decline in memory resulting in a struggle to perform daily activities. There are many types of dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

 

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Over five million Americans suffer from the disease, and this number is expected to grow rapidly within the next few decades. Alzheimer’s affects not only the people suffering from the disease, but their families as well. It places a major mental and financial burden on them as they care for their loved ones. This disease is majorly impacting the nation, therefore, advancements in treatment are essential.

The use of marijuana in the medical industry is a very controversial topic. A manuscript published in the journal of Molecular Pharmaceutics reports on using the active ingredient in marijuana, THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol), to influence the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. The main characteristic of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of plaque in the brain caused by amyloidβ-peptide (Aβ) aggregation. The article exhibits how THC can inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is responsible for this aggregation. By binding to the peripheral anionic site of AChE, THC inhibits the Aβ aggregation. The authors of the manuscript suggest that THC acts as a better inhibitor of Aβ aggregation than what is used in current drugs. Their research introduces a molecular process in which THC could prevent the disease’s progression, as well as treat the symptoms.

It is important to investigate the long term effects of using THC as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. Studies must be conducted to explore potential health and safety concerns, such as addiction.

 

Similar research has been conducted since the article mentioned above. One study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2014, describes the potential therapeutic effects THC can provide for Alzheimer’s disease. The following link leads you to this abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25024327

Reference:

A Molecular Link between the Active Component of Marijuana and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology
Lisa M. Eubanks,†, Claude J. Rogers,†, Albert E. Beuscher IV,‡, George F. Koob,§, Arthur J. Olson,‡, Tobin J. Dickerson,† and, and Kim D. Janda*,†
Molecular Pharmaceutics 2006 3 (6), 773-777
DOI: 10.1021/mp060066m

Other Resources:
http://www.alz.org/facts/
http://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm