Imagine your stomach as a busy, lively city. Inside this city live millions of tiny creatures. This hidden world is called the gut microbiota.
It includes bacteria, viruses, and other tiny life forms, including one called protists. Some of these tiny creatures can make us sick, but many are helpful and keep our bodies healthy.
One of the most common protists living in our gut is called Blastocystis. But just like people have different personalities, Blastocystis comes in many subtypes. Some subtypes may be helpful, while others can cause problems.
In Singapore, scientists discovered that one particular subtype, called Blastocystis ST7, often causes trouble. It has been linked to diarrhea and other gut issues, especially in Asia. But scientists didn’t fully understand how this tiny troublemaker was causing problems—until now.
A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore, led by Professor Nicholas Gascoigne and Associate Professor Kevin Tan, studied this mystery. Dr. Lukasz Wojciech, a key member of the team, made an exciting discovery. He found that Blastocystis ST7 produces a special substance called indole-3-acetyldehyde, or I3AA for short.
Think of I3AA as a little spark that sets off an alarm in your body. It makes the immune system—your body’s natural defense—overreact, even to harmless or friendly gut microbes. This overreaction leads to inflammation, which causes stomach discomfort and other symptoms.
This was the first time scientists figured out how Blastocystis ST7 causes inflammation in the gut. And the story gets even better.
The researchers also found that some good bacteria in our gut can fight against the bad effects of I3AA. These friendly bacteria are called lactobacilli. You can find them in tasty foods like yogurt and cheese. Lactobacilli help keep our gut healthy and our immune system in balance.
So, if someone has stomach trouble caused by Blastocystis ST7, eating foods with lactobacilli might help. It’s like sending friendly citizens into the gut city to calm down the troublemakers and restore peace.
This discovery is important because it shows that not all Blastocystis are harmful. Some subtypes may even be helpful. By learning more about which subtypes are harmful and which are not, doctors can better diagnose gut problems and recommend treatments.
Professor Gascoigne says the research team is continuing their work. They want to find out whether I3AA is only made by the ST7 subtype and if it can be used to help diagnose the disease. They also want to learn more about how specific strains of lactobacilli might help protect the gut from inflammation caused by Blastocystis ST7.
This fascinating research reminds us that our gut is full of life—and that these tiny beings can have a big impact on how we feel. From harmful troublemakers like ST7 to helpful heroes like lactobacilli, the tiny creatures in our gut are more powerful than they seem.
Taking care of our gut could lead to better health overall. Other research has shown that green tea may help gut health and lower blood sugar. Some diets may also improve gut health and support weight loss. There’s even evidence that a glass of red wine can be good for your gut.
For more information about gut health, please see recent studies about the crucial link between diet, gut health, and the immune system and results showing that Low-gluten, high-fiber diets boost gut health and weight loss.
For more information about gut health, please see recent studies about Navigating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with diet and results showing that Mycoprotein in diet may reduce risk of bowel cancer and improve gut health.
The full study was published in The EMBO Journal.
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