A recent study conducted at UBC Okanagan has uncovered a breakthrough technique to monitor gut health that is less invasive and more convenient. Dr. Kirk Bergstrom and post-graduate student Noah Fancy from UBCO’s Biology department have developed a non-invasive method to study MUC2, a critical gut protein, by analyzing the mucus in our digestive system that eventually becomes part of fecal matter. The findings of their research have been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
MUC2 plays a vital role in protecting our intestines and maintaining our overall health. Previously, accessing this important molecule required invasive and painful procedures such as biopsies or surgery. However, the study reveals that mucus is present in our stool, allowing for painless and more accessible analysis. Conducting non-invasive analysis is a significant advantage.
Dr. Bergstrom’s team has discovered that important markers for gut health can be found in the mucus attached to our stool, known as fecal-adherent mucus. This mucus, often disregarded and flushed away, contains valuable information about our gut health.
MUC2, a glycoprotein with multiple sugar chains, forms a protective barrier in our intestines through mucus, defending our gut against harmful microbes and toxins while playing a crucial role in digestion. Gaining a deeper understanding of MUC2 could lead to significant advancements in the management and prevention of gut-related diseases, thereby impacting the well-being of millions.
Dr. Bergstrom adds, “We can use these new methods to visualize mucus-microbiota interactions and how they go wrong in various diseases, like inflammatory bowel diseases and colon cancer. The sugars on the mucins also carry lots of information on the health status of the colon.”
The study was a result of a collaborative effort between the Bergstrom Lab, the chemistry labs of Dr. Wesley Zandberg, and the biology labs of Dr. Sepideh Pakpour, Dr. Deanna Gibson, and Dr. Sanjoy Ghosh, all based at UBC Okanagan. Led by Master of Science student Noah Fancy, this research paves the way for innovative approaches to study gut health.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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