Using garlic to combat antimicrobial resistant urinary tract infections

Garlic extract may be an effective weapon against multi-drug resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria associated with urinary tract infections (UTI), according to a recent study.

Garlic extract may be an effective weapon against multi-drug resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria associated with urinary tract infections (UTI), according to a recent study published in the Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science.

Conducted by researchers at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences in India, the study found that "even crude extracts of [garlic] showed good activity against multidrug resistant strains where antibiotic therapy had limited or no effect. This provides hope for developing alternative drugs which may be of help in fighting the menace of growing antibacterial resistance," the team states.

Urinary tract infection is the second most common infectious disease encountered in community practice. Worldwide, about 150 million people are diagnosed each year with UTI, at a total treatment cost in the billions of dollars. Although UTI is usually treated with antibiotics, "emerging antimicrobial resistance compels us to look back into traditional medicines or herbal products, which may provide appropriate/acceptable alternative solutions," the authors argue.

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been traditionally used for the treatment of diseases since ancient times. A wide range of microorganisms -- including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses -- are known to be sensitive to garlic preparations. Allicin and other sulphur compounds are thought to be the major antimicrobial factors in garlic.

In this study, the team found that 56% of 166 bacteria strains isolated from the urine of people with UTI showed a high degree of resistance to antibiotics. However, about 82% of the antibiotic resistant bacteria were susceptible to a crude aqueous extract of Allium sativum. According to the researchers, "ours is the first study to report the antibacterial activity of aqueous garlic extract against multidrug resistant bacterial isolates from infected urine samples leading to UTI."

"To conclude, there is evidence that garlic has potential in the treatment of UTI and maybe other microbial infections," says the team. "However, it is necessary to determine the bioavailability, side effects and pharmacokinetic properties in more detail."

For further information please see:http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JTAS%20Vol.%2038%20(2)%20May.%202015/09%20Page%20271-278%20(JTAS%200616-2014).pdf

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The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

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Basic computing elements created in bacteria

Researchers unveil a series of sensors, memory switches, and circuits that can be encoded in the common human gut bacterium. These basic computing elements will allow the bacteria to sense, memorize, and respond to signals in the gut, with future applications that might include the early detection and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer, they say.

The illustration depicts Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (white) living on mammalian cells in the gut (large pink cells coated in microvilli) and being activated by exogenously added chemical signals (small green dots) to express specific genes, such as those encoding light-generating luciferase proteins (glowing bacteria).

Credit: Janet Iwasa

The "friendly" bacteria inside our digestive systems are being given an upgrade, which may one day allow them to be programmed to detect and ultimately treat diseases such as colon cancer and immune disorders.

In a paper published in the journal Cell Systems, researchers at MIT unveil a series of sensors, memory switches, and circuits that can be encoded in the common human gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.

These basic computing elements will allow the bacteria to sense, memorize, and respond to signals in the gut, with future applications that might include the early detection and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer.

Researchers have previously built genetic circuits inside model organisms such as E. coli. However, such strains are only found at low levels within the human gut, according to Timothy Lu, an associate professor of biological engineering and of electrical engineering and computer science, who led the research alongside Christopher Voigt, a professor of biological engineering at MIT.

"We wanted to work with strains like B. thetaiotaomicron that are present in many people in abundant levels, and can stably colonize the gut for long periods of time," Lu says.

The team developed a series of genetic parts that can be used to precisely program gene expression within the bacteria. "Using these parts, we built four sensors that can be encoded in the bacterium's DNA that respond to a signal to switch genes on and off inside B. thetaiotaomicron," Voigt says.

These can be food additives, including sugars, which allow the bacteria to be controlled by the food that is eaten by the host, Voigt adds.

Bacterial "memory"

To sense and report on pathologies in the gut, including signs of bleeding or inflammation, the bacteria will need to remember this information and report it externally. To enable them to do this, the researchers equipped B. thetaiotaomicron with a form of genetic memory. They used a class of proteins known as recombinases, which can record information into bacterial DNA by recognizing specific DNA addresses and inverting their direction.

The researchers also implemented a technology known as CRISPR interference, which can be used to control which genes are turned on or off in the bacterium. The researchers used it to modulate the ability of B. thetaiotaomicron to consume a specific nutrient and to resist being killed by an antimicrobial molecule.

The researchers demonstrated that their set of genetic tools and switches functioned within B. thetaiotaomicron colonizing the gut of mice. When the mice were fed food containing the right ingredients, they showed that the bacteria could remember what the mice ate.

Expanded toolkit

The researchers now plan to expand the application of their tools to different species of Bacteroides. That is because the microbial makeup of the gut varies from person to person, meaning that a particular species might be the dominant bacteria in one patient, but not in others.

"We aim to expand our genetic toolkit to a wide range of bacteria that are important commensal organisms in the human gut," Lu says.

The concept of using microbes to sense and respond to signs of disease could also be used elsewhere in the body, he adds.

In addition, more advanced genetic computing circuits could be built upon this genetic toolkit in Bacteroides to enhance their performance as noninvasive diagnostics and therapeutics.

"For example, we want to have high sensitivity and specificity when diagnosing disease with engineered bacteria," Lu says. "To achieve this, we could engineer bacteria to detect multiple biomarkers, and only trigger a response when they are all present."

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The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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What is MERS? What you need to know

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), previously known as novel coronavirus (nCoV), is a viral respiratory illness, which was first reported in Saudi Arabia, in 2012. The source of MERS is currently unknown, though it is likely to have originated from an animal.

The MERS virus is currently spreading in South Korea. This, in combination with the fact that coronaviruses can often mutate, is leading to increased fears it could become a pandemic.

MERS-CoV is dissimilar to other coronaviruses; there is currently no vaccine.

Most confirmed cases of MERS-CoV have displayed symptoms of severe acute respiratory illness. Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS have died.

Contents of this article:

1. MERS Outbreak updates
2. What is MERS-CoV?
3. What causes MERS-CoV?
4. Signs and symptoms
5. Who is most at risk?
6. Tests and diagnosis
7. Treatment and prevention
8. Confirmed cases and deaths

You will also see introductions at the end of some sections to any recent developments that have been covered by MNT's news stories. Also look out for links to information about related conditions.

Fast facts on MERS

Here are some key points about MERS-CoV. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

• MERS-CoV was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
• MERS-CoV belongs to the coronavirus family.
• All cases have been linked to countries in and neighboring the Arabian Peninsula.
• Cases of MERS-CoV reported in other countries were travel-related and first developed in the Middle East.
• It is thought mammals play a role in the transmission of the virus - bats and camels remaining a high contender.
• In addition to humans, strains of MERS-CoV have been identified in camels in Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and in a bat in Saudi Arabia.
• Doctors describe MERS-CoV as a flu-like illness with signs and symptoms of pneumonia.
• Sufferers of MERS-CoV will generally develop severe acute respiratory illness. Some people have reported mild respiratory illness with others showing no symptoms.
• There are no specific treatments for patients who become ill with MERS-CoV infection.
• Out of the confirmed cases of MERS-CoV, 36% have been fatal.

MERS Outbreak updates

June 5, 2015

In light of the recent outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), WHO and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare will conduct a joint mission in the Republic of Korea.

This joint mission is to gain information and review the situation in the Republic of Korea including the epidemiological pattern, the characteristic of the virus and clinical features.

Based on current data and WHO's risk assessment, there is no evidence to suggest sustained human-to-human transmission in communities and no evidence of airborne transmission.

June 2, 2015

The outbreak of MERS-CoV in the Republic of Korea continues to evolve. The Republic of Korea's first, or "index", case was confirmed on May 20, 2015.

To date, contact tracing has identified a total of 25 laboratory-confirmed cases, including the index case and among health care workers caring for him, patients who were being cared for at the same clinics or hospitals, and family members and visitors. Two of these confirmed cases have been fatal.

June 2, 2015

A total of 1,179 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with MERS-CoV have been reported to WHO since 2012, including at least 442 deaths.

What is MERS-CoV?

MERS-CoV belongs to the coronavirus family. Human coronaviruses were first classified in the mid 1960s. The coronavirus subgroups are referred to as alpha, beta, gamma and delta. There are currently six coronaviruses that can affect humans including:

MERS-CoV belongs to the coronavirus family. Human coronaviruses were first classified in the mid 1960s. MERS-CoV was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia.

Alpha coronaviruses

• Human coronavirus 229E
• Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63, New Haven coronavirus).

Beta coronaviruses

• Human coronavirus OC43
• Human coronavirus HKU1
• SARS-CoV
• Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Coronaviruses typically infect one species type or those that are closely related. However, SARS-CoV infects both humans and animals including monkeys, Himalayan palm civets, raccoon dogs, cats, dogs, and rodents.

The common cold is a virally related syndrome. It is connected to over 100 separate viruses, including human coronavirus.

MERS-CoV is a species in lineage C of the genus beta coronavirus, which presently includes tylonycteris bat coronavirus HKU4 and pipistrellus bat coronavirus HKU5.

MERS-CoV is a species in lineage C of the genus beta coronavirus, which presently includes tylonycteris bat coronavirus HKU4 and pipistrellus bat coronavirus HKU5. Although it features in the same subgroup, MERS-CoV is different from the coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory virus (SARS) in 2003. One parallel between MERS-CoV and SARS is that they both are similar to coronaviruses found in bats.

MERS-CoV appears most closely to resemble the not-yet-classified viruses from insectivorous European and African bats in the Vespertilionidae and Nycteridae families.

All cases have been linked to countries in and neighboring the Arabian Peninsula including:

• Bahrain
• Iraq
• Iran
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• The West Bank
• Yemen.

Cases of MERS-CoV reported in other countries were travel-related and first developed in the Middle East. Countries that have declared cases are:

Middle East

• Egypt
• Iran
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia (KSA)
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Yemen.

Europe

• Austria
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Turkey
• United Kingdom.

Africa

• Algeria
• Tunisia.

Asia

• China
• Republic of Korea
• Malaysia
• Philippines.

Americas

• US.

What causes MERS-CoV?

The cause of MERS-CoV is not yet fully understood. Although not confirmed, the infection could be primarily zoonotic in nature, with limited human-to-human transmission. It is thought mammals play a role in the transmission of the virus - bats and camels remaining a high contender.

It is thought mammals play a role in the transmission of the virus - bats and camels remaining a high contender.

In addition to humans, strains of MERS-CoV have been identified in:

• Camels in Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
• A bat in Saudi Arabia.

MERS-CoV antibodies were found in camels across Africa and the Middle East, indicating that they had previously been infected with MERS-CoV or a closely related virus.

Researchers from three centers in the United States and two in Saudi Arabia conducted complete genetic sequences for MERS-CoV isolates generated from five camels, the results verified them identical to published sequences of human isolates.

Goats, cows, sheep, water buffalo, swine and wild birds have been tested for antibodies to MERS-CoV; none have yet been detected.

The findings above support the hypothesis that camels are a probable source of infection transfer to humans, while bats may be the ultimate reservoir of the virus. The high infectious dose would require very close contact between an infected camel and humans for instigation of human MERS-CoV infection by camels. It has been suggested the virus could infect humans by air, via camel milk or meat.

Experts have commented that although the respiratory route of transmission is the most likely, the paper has exhibited that MERS-CoV can survive in raw camel milk marginally longer than milk of other species, proposing the foodborne path of transmission should be investigated further.

Recent developments on MERS-CoV causes

MERS may have started in bats in Saudi Arabia

Researchers have discovered what they believe could be the animal origin of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) - after examining a bat in Saudi Arabia near where the first person was infected with the mystery virus.

MERS coronavirus: are camels the carrier?

A European study published gives the first hint that camels could be a reservoir for the mysterious MERS virus.

Signs and symptoms of MERS

The most common signs and symptoms of MERS-CoV are:

• Fever 100 degrees F or higher
• Cough
• Breathing difficulties
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Body aches
• Sore throat
• Malaise - a general feeling of being unwell
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Runny nose
• Renal (kidney) failure
• Pneumonia.

Doctors describe it as flu-like illness with signs and symptoms of pneumonia. Early reports described symptoms as similar to those found in SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome) cases. However, SARS infections did not cause renal failure, unlike MERS-CoV.

Sufferers of MERS-CoV will generally develop severe acute respiratory illness. Some people have reported mild respiratory illness with others showing no symptoms.

Who is most at risk?

The following groups of people are more susceptible to MERS-CoV infections and complications:

• Patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease and heart conditions
• The elderly
• Organ transplant recipients who are on immunosuppressive medications
• Other patients whose immune systems are weak, such as cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Out of the confirmed cases of MERS-CoV, 36% have been fatal.

Tests and diagnosis

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is used to detect and diagnose infectious disease and can confirm positive cases of MERS-CoV by means of a sample from the patient's respiratory tract.

A blood test can determine if an individual has previously been infected, by testing for MERS-CoV antibodies.

Recent developments on MERS-CoV diagnosis from MNT news

WHO: two confirmed US MERS cases, but still 'no public health emergency'

For the first time, the US has been confronted with two confirmed cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus. Though public health officials are taking great steps to prevent spread of the illness, the World Health Organization say the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern have "not yet been met."

Difference Identified Between MERS-CoV And SARS

Research has identified the key differences between the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS.

CDC concludes Indiana MERS patient did not spread virus to Illinois business associate

After completing additional and more definitive laboratory tests, CDC officials have concluded that an Indiana MERS patient did not spread the virus to an Illinois associate during a business meeting they had before the patient became ill and was hospitalized.

Treatment and prevention

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO (World Health Organization), there are no specific treatments for patients who become ill with MERS-CoV infection.

Most confirmed cases of MERS-CoV have displayed symptoms of severe acute respiratory illness, 36% of these patients have died.

All doctors can currently do is provide supportive medical care to help relieve the symptoms. Supportive care means providing treatment to prevent, control or relieve complications and side effects, as well as attempting to improve the patient's comfort and quality of life. Supportive care (supportive therapy) does not include treating or improving the illness/condition.

Travel advice has been provided to reduce the risk of MERS-CoV infection amongst travelers, which includes information such as:

• There is an increased chance of illness for those travelers with pre-existing chronic conditions
• There is an increased chance of illness for travelers suffering from flu and traveller's diarrhea
• Frequent hand-washing is advised with soap and water
• Avoid undercooked meat or food prepared under unhygienic conditions
• Ensure fruit and vegetables are properly washed before consumption
• If a traveller develops acute respiratory illness with fever, they should minimize close contact with others, wear a medical mask, sneeze into a sleeve, flexed elbow or tissue (making sure it is disposed of properly after use)
• If during 14 days after returning from travel acute respiratory illness with fever develops; medical attention should be sought immediately
• All cases should be reported to the local health authorities; they monitor for MERS-CoV.

While MERS-CoV is contagious, the virus does not appear to pass between humans without close contact, for example, caring for a patient without protective precaution. Therefore, guidance should be pursued from a health care professional if symptoms materialize.

With so little still known about the virus strain, any advice or recommendation should be considered temporary and subject to change.

Confirmed cases and deaths

The following figures are the total number of MERS-CoV cases and deaths as of June 9, 2015 as reported by WHO.

Total cases confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO):

No. of cases	No. of deaths	Fatality %
1,236	445	36%

Recent developments on MERS-CoV treatment from MNT news

MERS lab strain could lead to vaccine

Scientists have developed a strain of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that could be used to develop a vaccine against the deadly pathogen.

Enzyme discovery holds promise for SARS, MERS vaccine

A study led by researchers from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, details a way of disabling a part of the virus involved in severe acute respiratory syndrome that allows it to hide from the immune system - a finding that may lead to the development of a vaccine against the disease.

The research team says their findings may also lead to the creation of a vaccine against Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) - a virus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

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Diets high in fat, sugar may reduce cognitive functioning by altering gut bacteria

A Diet high in fat or sugar may do more than expand our waistlines. A new study by researchers from Oregon State University finds such diets may lead to reduced cognitive functioning, with a high-sugar diet named as the biggest culprit.

The team found diets high in sugar or fat triggered alterations to the gut microbiome linked to reduced cognitive functioning.

Published in the journal Neuroscience, the study reveals that high-fat and high-sugar diets trigger changes in gut bacteria that are largely associated with loss of "cognitive flexibility" - the ability to adapt to changing situations.

In addition, the high-sugar diet was associated with poorer short- and long-term memory.

Principal investigator Prof. Kathy Magnusson, of the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State, notes there is an increasing amount of evidence emerging that gut bacteria can communicate with the brain.

"Bacteria can release compounds that act as neurotransmitters, stimulate sensory nerves or the immune system, and affect a wide range of biological functions," Prof. Magnusson explains. "We're not sure just what messages are being sent, but we are tracking down the pathways and the effects."

One example of how gut bacteria may interact with the brain was revealed in a study published in the journal Cell in April, in which researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) found that gut bacteria influence the production of serotonin - a neurotransmitter responsible for maintaining mood balance.

Reduced cognitive flexibility with high-fat, high-sugar diets

Prof. Magnusson and colleagues reached their findings using 2-month-old male mice, which were randomized to be fed either a high-fat diet (42% fat, 43% carbohydrate), a high-sugar diet (12% fat, 70% carbohydrate - mainly from sugars) or normal chow.

Prior to dietary intervention and 2 weeks after, the researchers analyzed the feces of the mice in order to establish the composition of their gut bacteria.

The short- and long-term memory and cognitive flexibility of the mice were assessed before and after dietary intervention via water maze testing and novel object and location tasks.

Compared with mice fed normal chow, mice fed the high-fat or high-sugar diets experienced a significant reduction in cognitive functioning - particularly in cognitive flexibility.

Explaining what cognitive flexibility is, Prof. Magnusson asks us to imagine driving home using a route that is very familiar. One day, the road is closed, meaning we need to find a different route.

An individual with a high level of cognitive flexibility would adapt to the situation straight away, immediately seeking out an alternative route. But a person with impaired cognitive flexibility may find the unexpected change in situation very stressful, causing them to become flustered and take longer getting home.

Reduction in cognitive flexibility was strongest for mice fed the high-sugar diet, according to the researchers, and this diet was also found to reduce short- and long-term memory.

Diets altered gut microbiome of mice

The team believes the reduction in cognitive functioning following diets high in fat or sugar was driven by alterations to the composition of gut bacteria, or the gut microbiome.

Both diets were linked to an increase in bacteria called Clostridiales and a reduction in bacteria known asBacteroidales, with such changes associated with reduced cognitive flexibility.

Mice fed the high-sugar diet experienced the highest increases in Clostridiales and the biggest reductions in Bacteroidales, consistent with the largest reductions in cognitive flexibility.

The team says their findings are consistent with some previous studies suggesting that a Western diet - typically high in fat and sugar - may negatively impact cognitive functioning. Past research has associated a Western diet with greater risk of Alzheimer's disease, for example. Their study indicates that such a diet may affect cognitive functioning via alteration of the gut microbiome.

Prof. Magnusson says:

"We've known for a while that too much fat and sugar are not good for you. This work suggests that fat and sugar are altering your healthy bacterial systems, and that's one of the reasons those foods aren't good for you. It's not just the food that could be influencing your brain, but an interaction between the food and microbial changes."

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Fat, sugar cause bacterial changes that may relate to loss of cognitive function

A study indicates that both a high-fat and a high-sugar diet, compared to a normal diet, cause changes in gut bacteria that appear related to a significant loss of 'cognitive flexibility,' or the power to adapt and adjust to changing situations. This effect was most serious on the high-sugar diet, which also showed an impairment of early learning for both long-term and short-term memory.

Donuts are often high in fat and sugar. Experiments with mice show that after just four weeks on a high-fat or a high-sugar diet, the performance of mice on various tests of mental and physical function began to drop, compared to animals on a normal diet. One of the most pronounced changes was in what researchers call cognitive flexibility.

Credit: © Mara Zemgaliete / Fotolia

A study at Oregon State University indicates that both a high-fat and a high-sugar diet, compared to a normal diet, cause changes in gut bacteria that appear related to a significant loss of "cognitive flexibility," or the power to adapt and adjust to changing situations.

This effect was most serious on the high-sugar diet, which also showed an impairment of early learning for both long-term and short-term memory.

The findings are consistent with some other studies about the impact of fat and sugar on cognitive function and behavior, and suggest that some of these problems may be linked to alteration of the microbiome -- a complex mixture in the digestive system of about 100 trillion microorganisms.

The research was done with laboratory mice that consumed different diets and then faced a variety of tests, such as water maze testing, to monitor changes in their mental and physical function, and associated impacts on various types of bacteria. The findings were published in the journalNeuroscience, in work supported by the Microbiology Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

"It's increasingly clear that our gut bacteria, or microbiota, can communicate with the human brain," said Kathy Magnusson, a professor in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute.

"Bacteria can release compounds that act as neurotransmitters, stimulate sensory nerves or the immune system, and affect a wide range of biological functions," she said. "We're not sure just what messages are being sent, but we are tracking down the pathways and the effects."

Mice have proven to be a particularly good model for studies relevant to humans, Magnusson said, on such topics as aging, spatial memory, obesity and other issues.

In this research, after just four weeks on a high-fat or a high-sugar diet, the performance of mice on various tests of mental and physical function began to drop, compared to animals on a normal diet. One of the most pronounced changes was in what researchers call cognitive flexibility.

"The impairment of cognitive flexibility in this study was pretty strong," Magnusson said. "Think about driving home on a route that's very familiar to you, something you're used to doing. Then one day that road is closed and you suddenly have to find a new way home."

A person with high levels of cognitive flexibility would immediately adapt to the change, determine the next best route home, and remember to use the same route the following morning, all with little problem. With impaired flexibility, it might be a long, slow, and stressful way home.

This study was done with young animals, Magnusson said, which ordinarily would have a healthier biological system that's better able to resist pathological influences from their microbiota. The findings might be even more pronounced with older animals or humans with compromised intestinal systems, she said.

What's often referred to as the "Western diet," or foods that are high in fat, sugars and simple carbohydrates, has been linked to a range of chronic illnesses in the United States, including the obesity epidemic and an increased incidence of Alzheimer's disease.

"We've known for a while that too much fat and sugar are not good for you," Magnusson said. "This work suggests that fat and sugar are altering your healthy bacterial systems, and that's one of the reasons those foods aren't good for you. It's not just the food that could be influencing your brain, but an interaction between the food and microbial changes."

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The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Oregon State University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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