Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by mrpg on Sunday February 03 2019, @10:08AM   Printer-friendly
from the ohoh dept.

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

Whopping big viruses prey on human gut bacteria: Largest phages ever found in humans target bacteria associated with hunter-gatherer diets

Some of the largest of these so-called bacteriophages have now been found in the human gut, where they periodically devastate bacteria just as seasonal outbreaks of flu lay humans low, according to a new study led by University of California, Berkeley, scientists.

These "megaphages" -- which have genomes about 10 times larger than the average phage and twice as big as any phage previously found in humans -- were found in the human intestinal tract, but only from humans who eat a non-Western, high-fiber, low-fat diet.

Tellingly, they were also found in the guts of baboons and a pig, demonstrating that phages -- which can carry genes that affect human health -- can move between humans and animals and perhaps carry disease.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 03 2019, @02:01PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 03 2019, @02:01PM (#795679)

    it almost sounds like the headline and article are spinning that eating a non-traditional western diet of McDonald's and apple pie made with good-from-the-ground coal tar derived seasonings are more healthy than those backwards hippies that eat like animals rather than eating the animals.

    and yes its true: that burger king leads in whopposity.

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +1  
       Funny=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Funny' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   1