A team of American and British researchers has determined natural “good” bacteria in the human gut that break down yeast in beer, bread, and other carb-rich foods may hold the key to new treatments for autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s Disease.
In a new study published the journal
Nature, researchers at Newcastle University and the University of Michigan Medical School, identified the complex mechanism by which the common bacteria found in the human gut is able to target and feast upon yeast carbohydrates,
Medical News Today reports.
These carbohydrates, derived from the yeast cell wall, are called mannans and are usually found in fermented foods such as bread, beer, wine, and soy sauce.
The researchers found one bacterium specific to the human gut — Bacteroides thetaiotomicron — is responsible for hunting out and degrading the yeasts we consume from our bread and beer.
Lead researcher Eric Martens and his colleagues believe their work could accelerate development of prebiotic medicines to help people with bowel problems or autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease.
"People are very interested in developing dietary regimes where good bacteria are of benefit," added co-researcher Harry Gilbert, a professor of biochemistry at Newcastle University. "When you have certain bacteria dominant in the gut these microorganisms can produce molecules which have health-promoting effects."
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