The human and animal organisms are not affected by arsenic, which is found in the underground waters of many parts of the world. The main organ that neutralizes arsenic is the liver. However, scientists have identified intestinal bacteria that are also able to effectively protect the human body from toxic substances.
How do bacteria protect the body from poisoning?
Arsenic is found in many ores from which it enters groundwater. The human ancestors met poison so often in the historical past that during the evolution they acquired protective mechanisms.
A special enzyme - arsenic transferase - can convert a toxic substance into dimethylarsinic acid, which is excreted through the kidneys without consequences.
The experiments of a research group from the University of Montana found that arsenic in the body is also excreted in other ways. Mice lacking the arsenic transferase gene survived after exposure to arsenic.
However, the subjects died if they were given the cefoperazone antibiotic, which kills beneficial intestinal bacteria. Therefore, scientists have suggested that some intestinal bacteria bind and remove arsenic from feces.
Do people have such bacteria?
Bacteria are also found in humans. The transplantation of human intestinal bacteria prevented the death of mice from arsenic. However, stool transplantation did not always work equally well. Researchers used the feces of 5 human donors. Mice were able to survive arsenic poisoning for various periods of time.
Apparently, not all intestinal bacteria are capable of binding or actively neutralizing arsenic.
Scientists found in further experiments an interesting bacterium - Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. She, experts believe, is involved in the disposal of arsenic in the human body.
The genome of this bacterium contains the same arsenic transferase that a person has in the liver. Further experiments on mice showed that prior administration of bacteria could protect animals.
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is available in capsule form.
People living in regions with a high arsenic content in drinking water can protect themselves from arsenic with probiotic agents.
Is reducing the number of “beneficial” bacteria in the gut dangerous for humans?
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is a gram-negative bacterium that makes up more than 5% of the total number of microorganisms in the intestine. This makes it one of the most common anaerobic intestinal microorganisms.
Faecailbacterium is considered an important source of energy for intestinal mucosa cells. It was first described in detail in 2002 by Duncan, an American microbiologist. The bacterium is immobile and forms butyric, formic and lactic acids, but without hydrogen.
Faecalibacterium prausnitziii also has a direct protective effect on the integrity of the mucosal barrier. A decrease in the concentration of beneficial bacteria is associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
A decrease in the number of microorganisms may be associated with a deficiency of colonocytes, which increases the risk of various diseases in the colon.
The most common diseases caused by a lack of bacteria:
- acute intestinal inflammation;
- chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis);
- cancerous diseases.
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is a universal microorganism that is needed to maintain normal bowel function. Representatives of this species are very sensitive to changes in the intestinal environment. Changes in the number and population of this species have been observed in some intestinal disorders. Scientists intend to use the strain F. prausnitzii as the gold standard measure for healthy intestines.
The regular use of a probiotic helps to normalize the intestinal flora and reduce the risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases. Researchers are still studying the effect of transplanted stool with a high number of beneficial bacteria on people's health.
By 2022, the first significant results will appear on the effect of feces transplantation on intestinal inflammation.
