Jun 17, 2020
Filipe Cabrerio researches how a
host’s microbiome and physiology interact in the context of
different conditions such as
aging and metabolic syndrome while taking various
medications.
He shares some his lab’s research with listeners,
explaining
Filipe Cabreiro holds a Sir
Henry Dale Fellowship in the London Institute of Medical Sciences
at the Imperial College of London. His lab works to understand how
the microbiome interacts with a host’s physiology—how the microbes
that one produces interact with others, especially when both are
challenged by daily medications taken to deal with disease and in
the conditions of
aging.
The lab recently made an important discovery in the context of
cancer drugs: they found that classic drugs for colorectal cancer
were modified by microbial metabolism that reduced or amplified the
action of the drugs. Further, they found that certain components of
food could change that response.
He also discusses a study on
metformin, a drug taken for type 2 diabetes, and its interaction
with the microbiome. They found that nutrients, the host’s
microbiome, and the drug interact in an important way. Metformin
makes selective pressures on certain gut microbes, which translates
into longer lasting change associated with positive effects. They
think metformin pushes for certain conditions that allow some
healthful microbes to survive and also pushes strong metabolic
change.
The consequences of that change is the production of molecules such
as fatty acids and others that can actively regulate the host’s
physiology and metabolism. He explains the nature of this
interaction and the significance in more detail along with
challenges to these kinds of studies, further hypotheses, and
future research he hopes to take on.
For more, see his lab’s web
page: cabreirolab.org.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK