This course explores the science of the microbiome, focusing on the relationship between these tiny single-celled organisms and human health. Participants discuss topics such as the microbiome's impact on the immune system, the effects of antibiotic use, and potential treatments like fecal transplants. The course aims to educate learners on the importance of maintaining a healthy microbiome and its role in various diseases and conditions. The teaching method involves presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions with experts in the field. This course is intended for individuals interested in biology, health, and the human body's intricate systems.
Overview
Syllabus
- Program introduction
- Participant introductions
- When do we acquire our microbiome?
- Connection between the microbiome and our immune system
- Using mice to study the microbiome
- When does your microbiome stabilize?
- What is the Human Microbiome Project?
- How unique is each person's microbiome?
- Mapping the microbiome on different areas of the body
- The effects of extensive antibiotic use on the microbiome and cause of modern diseases
- Are the microbes in dirt good for us?
- Rates of asthma in the Amish and Hutterites
- Hygiene hypothesis
- Antibiotic use and the rise of obesity in the US
- Obesity and the microbiome
- How do changes in the microbiome get passed from generation to generation?
- C. difficile and fecal transplants
- Can fecal transplants be used to treat other diseases?
- Connection between the gut and the brain
- Can the microbiome cause depression?
- How do you study depression in mice?
- Is there a strong association between what is happening in the gut and behavior?
- Is the microbiome connected to autism?
- How do the microbiomes of hunter-gatherers living in primitive conditions compared to people with high exposure to antibiotics?
- Is it possible that we'll never recapture our full ancestral microbiota diversity?
- How can we keep our microbiome happy and healthy?
- The role of the microbiome in precision medicine and drug efficacy
- Do probiotics really work?
Taught by
World Science Festival
