Thi Tran – BHS 323

As the head of a funding agency, I would like to fund a project that would prove more evidence between the correlation of the infection of H. pylori and increased immunity against asthma and allergies. Although there were a few articles I have read this term addressing this, I do not think there is strong enough evidence to further prove this claim. So, I would like to endorse a study that would be ultimately proving H. Pylori in childhood would increase immunity of asthma and allergies.

Studies have shown that recently, there has been a rise in allergies and asthma in people every year. This is because there has been an increasingly lack of exposure to infectious agents in early childhood, environmental changes, and increase in sanitation. I believe by funding this project, this may help decrease asthma and allergies rates. If the results from the project are able to prove the infection of H. Pylori in childhood would increase immunity then it would have a global effect. Healthcare professionals such as physicians could administer small amounts of H. pylori to children in order to prevent the development of allergies and asthma. If the children face adverse effects from the H. pylori such as gastritis, then H. pylori could be eradicated with antibiotics in conjunction with probiotics. I believe that this is very important because a world without allergies or asthma will ultimately improve the health and happiness of the people.

Part 1:
Asthma, allergies, GERD, gastric cancer, gastritis, obesity, depression, diabetes, Crohn’s disease.

Part 2:
Initially after reading my first writing exercise, I noticed that my posts got longer and denser in information overtime. This might be because I continued to learn more thus able to write more about the influences of microbes on human health. I am able to easily identify many noninfectious diseases that are influenced by microorganisms. I would say the writing exercises got easier overtime. 

Now that I have completed this course, I can easily say this is one of the most useful and interesting courses I have taken in college. As the weeks passed, I found myself increasingly become intrigued in the different ways microbes influence our health both negatively and positively. One of the most important topics I will take away from this course is increasing the diversity in foods I eat to help my gut microbiome. After taking this class, I can confidently say I am more cautious of what I am ingesting that might affect my gut microbiome. 

Part 1:
Asthma, allergies, GERD, gastric cancer, gastritis, obesity, depression, diabetes, Crohn’s disease.

Part 2:
Initially after reading my first writing exercise, I noticed that my posts got longer and denser in information overtime. This might be because I continued to learn more thus able to write more about the influences of microbes on human health. I am able to easily identify many noninfectious diseases that are influenced by microorganisms. I would say the writing exercises got easier overtime.

Now that I have completed this course, I can easily say this is one of the most useful and interesting courses I have taken in college. As the weeks passed, I found myself increasingly become intrigued in the different ways microbes influence our health both negatively and positively. One of the most important topics I will take away from this course is increasing the diversity in foods I eat to help my gut microbiome. After taking this class, I can confidently say I am more cautious of what I am ingesting that might affect my gut microbiome.

Can Experiments detect differences that matter?
This question is important in interpreting scientific literature because it asks whether or not an experiment should be done based on whether the results from the experiment will be useful to the field of interest.

Does the study show causation or correlation?
When it comes to interpreting scientific literature, the difference between causation and correlation is immense and significant. Ultimately, it is the end goal to come to the conclusion that the variables cause an effect. Although not as useful, correlations can help explain why something might happen, but it does not mean that there is definite proof that it is the cause of the effect. A phrase often used to compare the two terms is “correlation does not mean causation”.

What is the mechanism?
The mechanism explains the steps in how things happen. The process is able to pinpoint specifically how things interact. An example of a mechanism could be how H. pylori is contracted and end up inhabiting the stomach.

How much do the experiments reflect reality?
Experiments are important in the way that it is always good to learn and discover new things, especially in the field of science where it can be served of great use. However, if an experiment does not reflect reality, then it might not be as useful to humans because it will not be applicable outside the laboratory setting.

Could anything else explain the results?
This is an important question to consider when interpreting scientific literature because it is important to identify what causes the results. It is better to find a definite cause than to portray false information to the world.

Based on the articles assigned this week, different types of psychological stress can alter the composition of gut microbiome. Examples of stress can include heat stress or maternal separation. Prior research done showed that change in the gut microbiome could affect our behavior. For instance, the gut-brain axis refers to the role that gut microbiota play in event signaling between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. The microbial communities in the body could influence the brain and mental health stress because if microbial health is poor, it plays a role in the brain/mental health because of the holistic approach in the human body. The conditions and pain induced from poor microbial health could alter a person’s mood.

The brain’s physical and mental state could also influence microbial communities in the body. This is because our bodies produce a variety of hormones depending on our state and how we are feeling. Examples of these hormones include epinephrine, melatonin, and triiodothyronine. These said hormones have the ability to cause an adverse effect on microbial health. For instance, triiodothyronine is used to increase metabolism in the body and in return, will affect the microbes as well. Our gut microbiomes can create neurotransmitters which will affect the brain and mental health state. Another study performed on mice showed that when microbes were transferred from normal mice to germ-free mice, it altered the brain chemistry and their behavior.

There was a study done on people with clinical depression and taking mood-altering drugs show that the dysbiosis caused by the drugs could be mitigated by introducing beneficial gut microbiota. The relationship between brain/mental health and gut flora could promote human health because if you do things that will benefit your microbial health such as taking probiotics or avoiding antibiotic use, it will also cause a positive effect on mental health states due to their relationship.

I enjoyed doing the peer-review process because it helped me sort out the contents of my paper. I found myself subconsciously comparing my paper to theirs. I learned what specifically to search for in my own paper to see if I can improve and include. I learned that there was so much more to reviewing a peer’s paper other than just editing the writing like I have in my other classes.

I actually found it difficult to critique others’ work because I did not want them to feel offended, but I am sure that my critique would overall improve the quality of their essay. When I saw powerful reasoning or a great use of a source, I would definitely let them know the positive effect that it put on their paper! There were many things that I learned while doing the peer review process. Based on my reading on other people’s paper, whenever I use terminology that may be a little advanced for the reader, I will include a short description following it in order to eliminate uncertainties. Overall, I thought the peer review process was very helpful and I appreciate receiving feedback from others that will help improve on the quality of my paper.

The process of peer reviews can be very complicated and time consuming, but it actually follows simple steps. Peer reviews serve to assess the quality of papers prior to publishing. The paper will be assessed by other experts in the relevant field in terms of validity, originality, and significance. The first step in the peer review process is the submission of the work completed. After that, the paper’s composition and arrangement is checked, but the quality of the paper is yet to be reviewed. Typically, the editor in chief for a certain scientific journal will check the paper to see if it is appropriate for publication in their journal. It could be rejected without a further review from others, but if everything goes accordingly, credited reviewers in relevant fields will be invited to assess your paper. The reviewers will comment on the paper and send in their final opinion to the journal whether or not it should be accepted or rejected. The editor in chief will then evaluate the reviews in order to determine if it should be published. Once a final decision is made, the author will be notified along with potential suggestions from reviewers that might improve the quality of the paper.

There are certainly many benefits to peer review. This process allows you to have the opportunity to receive critique from accredited people in relevant fields. This may offer opportunities to improve on the quality of the paper. The process of peer review also significantly improves the credibility of the results due to the extensive analysis from many others. A potential disadvantage in peer review includes bias. The reviewers assigned to your paper could be biased and may reject or disapprove of your work. Another disadvantage is that the peer review process is lengthy and will delay the results communicated in your work.

From the time of birth and you now, all of our actions heavily influence the changes in our microbiomes. Some behaviors that can contribute to decreased exposure would include eating a non diverse range of foods, antibiotics, limited exposure, and having a high sanitized house. Eating diverse food will allow exposure to a variety of microbes. This plays a role in decreased exposure to microbes due to nondiverse and consistently eating the same type of food.  Increased use of antibiotics will alter the overall microorganism communities living inside you by killing them off. Feeding a baby formula as to breast feeding will also affect a baby’s exposure to microbes as well. Having a high sanitized house contributes to decreased exposure to microbes as well because the skin will not be exposed to certain microbes that would be killed off by such sterile environment.

Step 1:
One of the most interesting things I have learned in this course is the gut microbiome. Prior to taking this course, I had very little knowledge about the gut microbiome and its affects on our health. It was really interesting to find out how the condition of our microbiome can tell us so many things about our health such as correlation to development of several diseases, and obesity. Reading about the microbiome almost every week made me reflect on the things I eat and how they might affect my gut microbiome. For example, I had always thought I took antibiotics to get rid of the bad bacteria in my body and never would have thought it was also negatively affecting my body as well. I had took antibiotics for my acne for 2 years. I did not know that antibiotics would adversely affect my microbiome by also harming the good bacteria in my gut. I am

Step 2:
antibiotics would adversely affect my microbiome by also harming the good bacteria in my gut

Step 3:
From my first free write, I underlined the phrase, “antibiotics would adversely affect my microbiome by also harming the good bacteria in my gut”. I chose this phrase because I had really bad acne growing up, so my primary care doctor prescribed me antibiotics. He has warned me about the minor side effects taking the antibiotics such as sun sensitivity, skin dryness and irritation but I had no idea it had also affected other parts of my body besides my skin. So, it was interesting to find out that antibiotics had also affected the benefitival bacteria living inside me. When the doctor prescribed me the medication, I saw an immediate change in my skin. Because of this I had always thought antibiotics were the best for getting rid of infections in the body. I remember in one of my discussion posts, I had talked about how rapid bacteria can adapt and develop certain resistance, I wonder if there is constantly made new antibiotics to fight off these bacterias or do people just rely on taking different antibiotics to kill it?

Step 4:
After doing this writing exercise, this significantly helped me organize my thoughts about what to write for my final paper. Before I had no idea what to write my essay on, but now writing out my thoughts, it helped me figured out what topic I am most intrigued about to write on. In order to prepare for my final paper, I will research the background on antibiotics and their functions in the human body and its affects on the gut microbiome. I will begin looking for primary and secondary research articles to provide relevant information and support for my paper.

There are several factors that the mother and infant could be exposed to that may influence the colonization of the microbial community in the newborn infant. First, the mother’s diet could affect the infant’s microbiome. As the fetus develops in the womb, all the nutrients it receives comes from what the mother eats. For instance, if the mother makes healthy eating choices while pregnant, most likely, the fetus will also be positively affected. On the other hand, choices such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and taking antibiotics will harm the infant. When the mother is severely ill, ingesting antibiotics will negatively harm the developing microbiome in the fetus because it does not target specifically only the “bad” bacteria, but it also harms “good” bacteria in the gut microbiome. Another potential factor that may influence the microbiome newborn infants is the mode of delivery. This is important in the development of the infant’s initial microbiota because the fetus is exposed to other microorganisms such as vaginal microbiome. Furthermore, whether the fetus is fed breastmilk or formula largely affects the microbiome as well. This is because breastmilk has beneficial bacteria that colonize the infant’s gut–which helps the baby’s growing immune system and metabolism.