Microbes and healthful longevity

Microbes and healthful longevity

popularity of hand sanitizer and antibiotics shows how we feel about bacteria: an enemy that's bad for our health. Emerging data, however, suggest just the opposite-that exposures to certain kinds of bacteria are beneficial for a long and healthy life, at least in part by inhibiting a wasting syndrome termed cachexia [1]. Cachexia, a condition defined as muscle wasting associated with chronic d...

Microbes, Oxytocin, and Healthful longevity

The microbiome is shown to have important roles in human health. Recent studies in mice show intestinal microbes stimulate host neuropeptide oxytocin and immune physiology in a mind-body paradigm with diverse outputs improved systemic wound-healing capacity. Oxytocin is best known for roles in reproduction and immunity, but is more recently implicated in obesity, human bonding, and trust. Micro...

Lice, Humans, and Microbes

Lice are small, wingless, minor ectoparasites of mammals and birds. More than 540  blood-sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) have been described with each host having its own type of louse, suggesting the cospeciation of the lice species with their host. Among these, two lice species from two different genera infest humans: Pediculus humanus and Phthirus pubis (pubic “crab” l...

Inhibition of Adenylyl Cyclase Type 5 Increases Longevity and Healthful Aging through Oxidative Stress Protection

Mice with disruption of adenylyl cyclase type 5 (AC5 knockout, KO) live a third longer than littermates. The mechanism, in part, involves the MEK/ERK pathway, which in turn is related to protection against oxidative stress. The AC5 KO model also protects against diabetes, obesity, and the cardiomyopathy induced by aging, diabetes, and cardiac stress and also demonstrates improved exercise capac...

Calorie Restriction, Longevity and Cognitive Function