A new study has found that microbes cooperate with sex hormones to affect the immune system. This new study found that males and females have slightly different immune systems and this all has to do with certain gut microbes that are present in each gender. Females are able to mount a more powerful immune response to attacks than males. But this enhanced protection of the immune system in females has a flipside; it puts them at a greater risk of autoimmune disorders. The study also discovered that certain microbes prevalent in males could actually protect them from type 1 diabetes. In the study the researchers mentioned that this study has shed light on a topic that has not been studies much. "The gender bias in major autoimmune diseases is well known but not well understood," said Alexander Chervonsky of the University of Chicago, who also heads the research team. Although this research was a breakthrough and until now it wasn’t clear how the microbes and the sex hormones work together to influence gender bias in autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes. To understand this more the researchers studied microbial communities in mice. They were looking for differences in the males and females and found that the microbes became different once the mice reached puberty. With these results the researchers suggested that sex hormones contributed to gender-specific changes in the gut microbes. The authors article was very descriptive but was lacking some information that could have made a positive contribution to the article. The author could have mentioned which microbe it was that is different among the males and the females. But other than that it was fascinating to learn that males and females have slightly different immune systems because of gut microbes that each gender has.
Cristian, this study amazes me, I would have never thought that there was a difference in immune systems between males and females. I only thought that there would be people with strong immune systems and others with weaker immune systems. It is also fascinating that our gut microbes play a role in creating our immune system in a sense. Before this class I would have never thought that microbes were extremely important in our bodies. This article was very interesting because it was proven that women have stronger immune systems but they are also more prevalent to autoimmune diseases. My grandmother suffers from an autoimmune disease and it would be amazing if we could simply alter her gut flora and alter her immune system that way it would not attack itself. There needs to be more research done before scientists will be able to alter someone’s gut microbiome. It will be an amazing discovery when it does happen!
I agree with Mariah! This study is fascinating!! I never knew that male and female immune systems differ from one another. I have never heard of anything on this subject so it must be a fairly new theory! Its also interesting how much our human microbiome has an effect on our immune systems. I never knew for sure how much microbes had control over our immune systems. This article is very very interesting and I'd love to hear more on the subject!
This was really cool to read about! I had no idea that microbes could differ among genders. I wish the article elaborated more on what microbes differ in females as opposed to males though. The fact that females have a more powerful immune response than males is really incredible. What I really want to know is how these microbes get into their host, and if they have to choose between male and female (or if they have a preference). Since we get most of our microbes from breastfeeding as an infant, I wonder if some of these gender specific microbes come during this time. I definitely think that more research needs to be done on this topic in order to find how these microbes and sex hormones work together. Thanks for sharing!
Wow Cristian, you found a really cool article! We have learned throughout the year about microbes and how they are beneficial to our immune systems; microbes help us break down and digest our food plus they help fight against harmful microbes. After learning this, I never would have thought that there are gender biased microbes playing different roles in the bodies of males and females. I find it fascinating that microbes help prevent type 1 diabetes in males and give enhanced protection of the immune system in females. A question I do have is if researchers are suggesting that our gut microbes change once we hit puberty like they did in mice. If that is not the case, I wonder how and when males and females obtain these gender biased microbes.
Cristian, this study amazes me, I would have never thought that there was a difference in immune systems between males and females. I only thought that there would be people with strong immune systems and others with weaker immune systems. It is also fascinating that our gut microbes play a role in creating our immune system in a sense. Before this class I would have never thought that microbes were extremely important in our bodies. This article was very interesting because it was proven that women have stronger immune systems but they are also more prevalent to autoimmune diseases. My grandmother suffers from an autoimmune disease and it would be amazing if we could simply alter her gut flora and alter her immune system that way it would not attack itself. There needs to be more research done before scientists will be able to alter someone’s gut microbiome. It will be an amazing discovery when it does happen!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mariah! This study is fascinating!! I never knew that male and female immune systems differ from one another. I have never heard of anything on this subject so it must be a fairly new theory! Its also interesting how much our human microbiome has an effect on our immune systems. I never knew for sure how much microbes had control over our immune systems. This article is very very interesting and I'd love to hear more on the subject!
ReplyDeleteThis was really cool to read about! I had no idea that microbes could differ among genders. I wish the article elaborated more on what microbes differ in females as opposed to males though. The fact that females have a more powerful immune response than males is really incredible. What I really want to know is how these microbes get into their host, and if they have to choose between male and female (or if they have a preference). Since we get most of our microbes from breastfeeding as an infant, I wonder if some of these gender specific microbes come during this time. I definitely think that more research needs to be done on this topic in order to find how these microbes and sex hormones work together. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWow Cristian, you found a really cool article! We have learned throughout the year about microbes and how they are beneficial to our immune systems; microbes help us break down and digest our food plus they help fight against harmful microbes. After learning this, I never would have thought that there are gender biased microbes playing different roles in the bodies of males and females. I find it fascinating that microbes help prevent type 1 diabetes in males and give enhanced protection of the immune system in females. A question I do have is if researchers are suggesting that our gut microbes change once we hit puberty like they did in mice. If that is not the case, I wonder how and when males and females obtain these gender biased microbes.
ReplyDelete