Go with Your Gut: Gut Microbes in Health & Disease

Did you know your gut is home to trillions of microbes that can influence your health? Your immune system plays a key role in keeping the balance, but how does it know which microbes are friends and which are foes? I’m exploring how special immune proteins interact with gut bacteria to prevent harmful inflammation. Could these interactions be the key to a healthier gut and new disease treatments? Join me to uncover the hidden conversations between your microbes and immune cells!

Gut health can be influenced by various factors and can also influence various aspects of health and interact with our body's homeostasis. The ability of our brain to maintain homeostasis is essential for cognitive functions, health and general well-being. Some factors influencing this balance are non-modifiable, like ageing, but others can be modifiable. In my talk, I will focus on the surprisingly important role of sleep and the circadian rhythm in supporting brain health via the gut microbiome, known as the gut-brain-axis. 

Gut microbes are essential to our health, but when this balance is disturbed, it can lead to various health issues. Faecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT), which involve transferring healthy gut microbes from one person to another, have already saved lives by treating severe infections. Now, researchers are exploring FMT’s potential to treat chronic conditions such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and obesity. In this talk, we’ll explore the science behind FMT, its current medical uses, and its future as a cutting-edge therapy.