{"id":450020,"date":"2025-09-25T09:03:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T09:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/450020\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T09:03:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T09:03:20","slug":"uh-study-finds-gut-bacteria-linked-to-how-genes-switch-on-and-off-kauai-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/450020\/","title":{"rendered":"UH study finds gut bacteria linked to how genes switch on and off : Kauai Now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The trillions of microbes that live in the human gut may play a larger role in health than previously thought, according to new research by the University of Hawai\u02bbi at M\u0101noa.<\/p>\n

The article, published in September 2025 in the\u00a0International Journal of Molecular Sciences<\/a>, explores how gut bacteria interact with human genes in ways that could shape disease risk, aging, and even future medical treatments.<\/p>\n

\"\"Professor Alika Maunakea and research faculty Riley Wells in the lab. (Courtesy of the University of Hawai\u02bbi at M\u0101noa)<\/p>\n

The review highlights how the gut microbiome\u2014the collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in the digestive system\u2014can affect epigenetics, the process that turns genes on or off without changing the DNA itself. These changes happen through chemical tags such as DNA or RNA methylation, which control when and how genes are expressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy understanding how gut microbes influence our genes, we can begin to imagine new ways to prevent disease and promote health in a way that gets us closer to personalized medicine,\u201d said Alika K. Maunakea, a co-author of the study and professor at the University of Hawai\u02bbi at M\u0101noa John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/b>ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/b><\/p>\n

Everyday factors such as diet, stress, medications, and aging can influence these microbial interactions. For example, gut bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids, nutrients, and other chemical signals that may reprogram gene activity linked to immunity, metabolism, or brain health.<\/p>\n

In turn, a person\u2019s lifestyle and genetic makeup can shape which microbes thrive in the gut, creating a feedback loop between humans and their microbes.<\/p>\n

The researchers point to future possibilities where understanding this loop could help doctors design personalized treatments. Potential applications include using microbial biomarkers (biological signals that indicate health or disease), developing \u201clive biotherapeutics\u201d (beneficial bacteria given like medicine), or refining fecal microbiota transplants, which transfer gut microbes from healthy donors to patients.<\/p>\n

Advances in artificial intelligence and single-cell analysis are helping scientists model these complex relationships at an unprecedented scale. The paper also stresses the importance of setting clear standards and ethical safeguards as this field develops.<\/p>\n

Frameworks such as the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable data) and CARE principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics) are needed to ensure that data from microbiome research benefits diverse populations equitably.<\/p>\n

By mapping out how gut microbes communicate with human genes, the review underscores both the promise and responsibility of this emerging science. The insights could open the door to precision health strategies that tailor prevention and treatment to each individual\u2019s unique microbial and epigenetic makeup.<\/p>\n

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