APC Microbiome Institute

Shared household environment structures the gut microbiota in a large family cohort with central areolar choroidal dystrophy

Central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD) is a rare monogenic hereditary retinal dystrophy characterised by progressive retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris atrophy, photoreceptor loss, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that the gu...

Gut microbial metabolism of peanuts generates immunoregulatory metabolites

Background. Complementary feeding practices and timing are thought to significantly influence early life immune development, with the early introduction of allergenic foods being especially important for prevention of food allergy. We hypothesized that allergen-containing foods s...

The Blastocystis-colorectal cancer hypothesis: correlation is not causation

Introduction Emotional empathy is a key component of medical professionalism, enhancing doctor–patient communication, trust, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes. However, research suggests that emotional empathy tends to decline during medical education, with potential neg...

Effects of a three-month exercise programme on cognition, mood and neurogenesis: the NeuroFit randomised controlled trial

Abstract Middle age represents a critical window for mental and cognitive change, yet it remains relatively understudied as a target period for preventative lifestyle interventions. We conducted a three-month randomised controlled trial in healthy middle-aged adults in the UK ( n...

Daily administration of Limosilactobacillus mucosae DPC 6426 had negligible effects on blood lipids in mildly hypercholesterolaemic adults

Abstract Among the recommendations to prevent heart disease is the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels, through the consumption of a cardioprotective diet, and if necessary, the use of therapeutics such as statins. Alterations in the gut microbiota have previously been...

Protocol for a scoping review Artificial intelligence applied to bacterial biofilms: a scoping review of the evidence base and barriers to transfer to food processing environments

Registered protocol for a scoping review on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applied to bacterial biofilms. The protocol specifies eligibility criteria, search strings for PubMed and Web of Science, a dual-reviewer screening procedure, and an extraction data...

Elucidating a potential role of the infant gut microbiome on L-tyrosine bioavailability in phenylketonuria using whole-body metabolic modelling

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, leading to elevated L-phenylalanine and severe neurological damage if untreated. While phenylalanine-based biomarkers are diagnostic and phenylalanine levels correlate w...

Baseline gut microbiome and metabolome profiles predict weight loss after a structured lifestyle intervention

Abstract Background Obesity remains a global health challenge, and responses to lifestyle-based weight-loss interventions are heterogeneous. Here, we evaluate a one-year structured lifestyle program in 50 adults with obesity (mean BMI 42 ± 7.0 kg/m 2 ), integrating clinical, micr...

Prospective observational study of the impact of early-life feeding on gut microbiome development in caesarean-delivered infants: associations with clinician-confirmed illness

Caesarean section (C-section) born infants acquire a compromised gut microbiome at birth. This prospective observational study investigated the impact of early-life feeding on gut microbiome of C-section born infants and its association with clinician-confirmed, parent-reported i...

Copper as a central element critical to interkingdom interactions within a polymicrobial wound environment

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus is a global health concern, estimated to cause over one million deaths each year. To colonise and survive in humans, S. aureus must overcome the host immune system and compete with other native and invading microorganisms. As a frequent coloniser of...