Scientific background
Boursi, B., Mamtani, R., Haynes, K., Yang, Y. X. (2015). Recurrent antibiotic exposure may promote disease progression of diabetes: A population-based cohort study. European Journal of Endocrinology, 172(6), 639–648.
- Summary: This population-based study found that repeated antibiotic use is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research suggests that antibiotics may alter gut microbiota, leading to chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic disturbances.
Libby, P., & Hansson, G. K. (2015). Inflammation and immunity in diseases of the arterial tree: Players and layers. Circulation Research, 116(2), 307–311.
• Summary: This article explores the role of chronic inflammation and immune responses in atherosclerosis. It discusses how infections may trigger inflammatory pathways that contribute to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases.
Honda, K., & Littman, D. R. (2016). The microbiota in adaptive immune homeostasis and disease. Nature, 535(7610), 75–84.
- Summary: This review discusses how the gut microbiota influences the host’s immune system. It highlights that disruptions in the microbiota composition, often resulting from infections, can lead to immune dysregulation and contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and allergies.
Dominy SS, Lynch C, Ermini F, Benedyk M, et al. (2019). Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors. Science Advances, 5(1), eaau3333.
- Summary: This study provides compelling evidence that the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is present in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients and may play a causative role in the disease’s development. The researchers demonstrated that gingipains, toxic proteases produced by P. gingivalis, contribute to neurodegeneration. Furthermore, they showed that small-molecule inhibitors targeting gingipains reduced bacterial load and neuroinflammation in mouse models, suggesting potential therapeutic approaches.
