3 ms·

I have no medical training. This is speculation only. Consult a doctor. Assuming the translated gut flora to be the cause of your improvement then I'd look at

I have no medical training. This is speculation only. Consult a doctor. Assuming the translated gut flora to be the cause of your improvement then I'd look at two things. What bacteria the beneficial transplant contains, you can have it assayed (I believe it's called a bacterial culture test) and then find a cheaper source for that bacteria. Two, what the diet of the donor is, so you can try to replicate the beneficial environment in which those particular bacteria flourish. AIUI, your own bacterial flora are in competition with the transplant. So, I wonder if a doctor would prescribe antibiotics (or something else) to wipe out your own flora, then the new flora (possibly with a diet change) would have a greater chance of taking hold? I wonder also if the causal flow is different here, that there's maybe an underlying condition that is causing the gut flora to not prosper (like making an excessively acid environment).

l-albertovich 4y ago
According to books such as "¡Es la microbiota, idiota!" (ISBN 8413440688 but I don't know if it's available in english) it's not that simple, I think they said that not all the strains are identified and even then there are strains that aren't easy to grow in vitro (I'm NOT a scientist, don't quote me on this, I just listened to the audiobook). What they make a point on is diet, she insists on the importance of having a diet that gives desirable bacteria strains an environment where they can thrive to achieve a balance. IIRC she also mentions how it's not as simple as having "good" and "bad" strains and how balance is key. It's a really interesting and funny book to listen to if you have a few hours for it. So in the case of OP I think you're right about finding out more about the donors diet and replicating it as well as adjusting anything necessary for the newly arrived colonies to last through time. I don't know sh!t about it nor do I intend to sound like I do so please correct me if I'm wrong.
- randycupertino 4y ago
  > "¡Es la microbiota, idiota!" Ha! As someone who has done clinical research on human subject on gut microbiome following blood & marrow transplants, this title is truly, truly great. My old lab needs t-shirts with that on it!

l-albertovich 4y ago

According to books such as "¡Es la microbiota, idiota!" (ISBN 8413440688 but I don't know if it's available in english) it's not that simple, I think they said that not all the strains are identified and even then there are strains that aren't easy to grow in vitro (I'm NOT a scientist, don't quote me on this, I just listened to the audiobook). What they make a point on is diet, she insists on the importance of having a diet that gives desirable bacteria strains an environment where they can thrive to achieve a balance. IIRC she also mentions how it's not as simple as having "good" and "bad" strains and how balance is key. It's a really interesting and funny book to listen to if you have a few hours for it. So in the case of OP I think you're right about finding out more about the donors diet and replicating it as well as adjusting anything necessary for the newly arrived colonies to last through time. I don't know sh!t about it nor do I intend to sound like I do so please correct me if I'm wrong.

randycupertino 4y ago
> "¡Es la microbiota, idiota!" Ha! As someone who has done clinical research on human subject on gut microbiome following blood & marrow transplants, this title is truly, truly great. My old lab needs t-shirts with that on it!