so what I’m going to be doing is I’m going to be talking about the microbiome
going to be talking about the microbiome
going to be talking about the microbiome and whether you can eat yourself healthy
and whether you can eat yourself healthy
and whether you can eat yourself healthy and you know I was trying to come up
and you know I was trying to come up
and you know I was trying to come up with the title as you can see there were
with the title as you can see there were
with the title as you can see there were a few attempts at that when you saw the
a few attempts at that when you saw the
a few attempts at that when you saw the original draft slide deck and if I’m
original draft slide deck and if I’m
original draft slide deck and if I’m honest quite a lot of my talk is going
honest quite a lot of my talk is going
honest quite a lot of my talk is going to be about poo so this is really the
to be about poo so this is really the
to be about poo so this is really the title of my talk the wonderful world of
title of my talk the wonderful world of
title of my talk the wonderful world of Pig you have no idea how much poo we
Pig you have no idea how much poo we
Pig you have no idea how much poo we have a laugh we have love just through
have a laugh we have love just through
have a laugh we have love just through you know and the reason that I am
you know and the reason that I am
you know and the reason that I am talking about poo and the microbiome is
talking about poo and the microbiome is
talking about poo and the microbiome is now more than ever we are being
now more than ever we are being
now more than ever we are being assaulted with headlines and self-help
assaulted with headlines and self-help
assaulted with headlines and self-help sites and websites and programs
sites and websites and programs
sites and websites and programs suggesting that the microbiome is the
suggesting that the microbiome is the
suggesting that the microbiome is the core of a whole host of conditions and
core of a whole host of conditions and
core of a whole host of conditions and if we could only change on microbiome we
if we could only change on microbiome we
if we could only change on microbiome we would be where we would be less anxious
would be where we would be less anxious
would be where we would be less anxious we would sleep better and the industry
we would sleep better and the industry
we would sleep better and the industry in making things that can change a
in making things that can change a
in making things that can change a microbiome is absolutely huge so I just
microbiome is absolutely huge so I just
microbiome is absolutely huge so I just pulled these off the internet last week
pulled these off the internet last week
pulled these off the internet last week but there are many many many more so
but there are many many many more so
but there are many many many more so before I go any further what is the
before I go any further what is the
before I go any further what is the microbiome it is the collection of
microbiome it is the collection of
microbiome it is the collection of organisms that lives inside you but also
organisms that lives inside you but also
organisms that lives inside you but also on you and that is a mixture of viruses
on you and that is a mixture of viruses
on you and that is a mixture of viruses yeast funghi even some parasites and of
yeast funghi even some parasites and of
yeast funghi even some parasites and of course bacteria and it’s the bacteria
course bacteria and it’s the bacteria
course bacteria and it’s the bacteria that we know the most about so most of
that we know the most about so most of
that we know the most about so most of the research is currently on bacteria
the research is currently on bacteria
the research is currently on bacteria and the number that I’m showing you of
and the number that I’m showing you of
and the number that I’m showing you of 38 trillion is the number that has been
38 trillion is the number that has been
38 trillion is the number that has been suggested to be the average number of
suggested to be the average number of
suggested to be the average number of bacteria living on one person so each
bacteria living on one person so each
bacteria living on one person so each one of you has 38 trillion bacteria
one of you has 38 trillion bacteria
one of you has 38 trillion bacteria that’s big but we have seven point six
that’s big but we have seven point six
that’s big but we have seven point six billion people on the planet so if I was
billion people on the planet so if I was
billion people on the planet so if I was to draw the seven point six billion to
to draw the seven point six billion to
to draw the seven point six billion to scale compared with one of your sets of
scale compared with one of your sets of
scale compared with one of your sets of bacterial populations let’s have a look
bacterial populations let’s have a look
bacterial populations let’s have a look and see what happens
can’t even see it we are dwarfed by our
can’t even see it we are dwarfed by our bacteria and because we can have fun
bacteria and because we can have fun
bacteria and because we can have fun with numbers let’s see how many bacteria
with numbers let’s see how many bacteria
with numbers let’s see how many bacteria we have on everybody in the planet it’s
we have on everybody in the planet it’s
we have on everybody in the planet it’s a lot isn’t it
a lot isn’t it
a lot isn’t it I think it’s 2.9 times 10 to the 23 I
I think it’s 2.9 times 10 to the 23 I
I think it’s 2.9 times 10 to the 23 I did have to check the zeros quite a lot
did have to check the zeros quite a lot
did have to check the zeros quite a lot so it’s staggeringly huge how many
so it’s staggeringly huge how many
so it’s staggeringly huge how many bacteria we have living inside us and on
bacteria we have living inside us and on
bacteria we have living inside us and on us and they are doing so many crucial
us and they are doing so many crucial
us and they are doing so many crucial things for our health they’re so diverse
things for our health they’re so diverse
things for our health they’re so diverse and just to illustrate how diverse and
and just to illustrate how diverse and
and just to illustrate how diverse and different they are I’m going to show you
different they are I’m going to show you
different they are I’m going to show you this art piece here this is an M done by
this art piece here this is an M done by
this art piece here this is an M done by an artist Mel Fisher what she does is
an artist Mel Fisher what she does is
an artist Mel Fisher what she does is she makes agar sculptures that enable
she makes agar sculptures that enable
she makes agar sculptures that enable her to then seed her own bacteria onto
her to then seed her own bacteria onto
her to then seed her own bacteria onto them and you can see on this one here
them and you can see on this one here
them and you can see on this one here you can see a whole host of different
you can see a whole host of different
you can see a whole host of different colors and shapes of bacteria and if she
colors and shapes of bacteria and if she
colors and shapes of bacteria and if she uses a different part of her skin or a
uses a different part of her skin or a
uses a different part of her skin or a different agar mix she can get another
different agar mix she can get another
different agar mix she can get another collection of microorganisms growing on
collection of microorganisms growing on
collection of microorganisms growing on her sculpture so that gives you a little
her sculpture so that gives you a little
her sculpture so that gives you a little taste of just how varied those microbes
taste of just how varied those microbes
taste of just how varied those microbes are they’re doing amazing things they’re
are they’re doing amazing things they’re
are they’re doing amazing things they’re protecting us from infection they’re
protecting us from infection they’re
protecting us from infection they’re shaping and developing our immune system
shaping and developing our immune system
shaping and developing our immune system they’re even helping us digest our food
they’re even helping us digest our food
they’re even helping us digest our food and making vital vitamins we couldn’t
and making vital vitamins we couldn’t
and making vital vitamins we couldn’t otherwise make on a mundane level we
otherwise make on a mundane level we
otherwise make on a mundane level we have this may reduce how much we fart
have this may reduce how much we fart
have this may reduce how much we fart everybody farts but we’d fart more if we
everybody farts but we’d fart more if we
everybody farts but we’d fart more if we didn’t have gut bacteria
didn’t have gut bacteria
didn’t have gut bacteria to see though and if you can light your
to see though and if you can light your
to see though and if you can light your farts that’s because if you’ve got
farts that’s because if you’ve got
farts that’s because if you’ve got bacteria to certain types of gut
bacteria to certain types of gut
bacteria to certain types of gut bacteria make flammable gas not
bacteria make flammable gas not
bacteria make flammable gas not everybody can do it so please don’t try
everybody can do it so please don’t try
everybody can do it so please don’t try it at home and why are we so excited
it at home and why are we so excited
it at home and why are we so excited about the bacteria well they are able to
about the bacteria well they are able to
about the bacteria well they are able to confer super powers on us one example is
confer super powers on us one example is
confer super powers on us one example is here this is a desert rat as you can
here this is a desert rat as you can
here this is a desert rat as you can imagine it lives in the desert and there
imagine it lives in the desert and there
imagine it lives in the desert and there isn’t really a great deal of food for it
isn’t really a great deal of food for it
isn’t really a great deal of food for it to eat but something that grows well is
to eat but something that grows well is
to eat but something that grows well is the creosote bush which is a very toxic
the creosote bush which is a very toxic
the creosote bush which is a very toxic plant if it were to eat it normally that
plant if it were to eat it normally that
plant if it were to eat it normally that would kill it however it can eat it very
would kill it however it can eat it very
would kill it however it can eat it very very comfortably which is good because
very comfortably which is good because
very comfortably which is good because it’s the most common type of food it’s
it’s the most common type of food it’s
it’s the most common type of food it’s going to get and it turns out that it’s
going to get and it turns out that it’s
going to get and it turns out that it’s all to do with its gut bacteria its
all to do with its gut bacteria its
all to do with its gut bacteria its bacteria can break down the poisons and
bacteria can break down the poisons and
bacteria can break down the poisons and make them safe if you give the rats
make them safe if you give the rats
make them safe if you give the rats antibiotics it can’t eat the plant
antibiotics it can’t eat the plant
antibiotics it can’t eat the plant anymore it will be killed that’s pretty
anymore it will be killed that’s pretty
anymore it will be killed that’s pretty amazing people have even looked at the
amazing people have even looked at the
amazing people have even looked at the difference in obesity so here we’ve got
difference in obesity so here we’ve got
difference in obesity so here we’ve got I think you can guess which one it is we
I think you can guess which one it is we
I think you can guess which one it is we have a very obese Mouse and it has a
have a very obese Mouse and it has a
have a very obese Mouse and it has a vastly different gut bacteria to a thin
vastly different gut bacteria to a thin
vastly different gut bacteria to a thin Mouse and if you do an experiment where
Mouse and if you do an experiment where
Mouse and if you do an experiment where you take a mouse that is genetically
you take a mouse that is genetically
you take a mouse that is genetically likely to get fat and you give it the
likely to get fat and you give it the
likely to get fat and you give it the microbiome of a thin person that Mouse
microbiome of a thin person that Mouse
microbiome of a thin person that Mouse doesn’t get fat it stays thin if you
doesn’t get fat it stays thin if you
doesn’t get fat it stays thin if you give the thin one the microbiome of a
give the thin one the microbiome of a
give the thin one the microbiome of a larger person it puts on weight so
larger person it puts on weight so
larger person it puts on weight so that’s suggest again that the microbiome
that’s suggest again that the microbiome
that’s suggest again that the microbiome can do things that make to be able to
can do things that make to be able to
can do things that make to be able to change our biology and they can do
change our biology and they can do
change our biology and they can do things that maybe we can log into and I
things that maybe we can log into and I
things that maybe we can log into and I think that’s the type of thing that’s
think that’s the type of thing that’s
think that’s the type of thing that’s led to this explosion and interest in
led to this explosion and interest in
led to this explosion and interest in changing the microbiome so there’s two
changing the microbiome so there’s two
changing the microbiome so there’s two main things that are done
main things that are done
main things that are done and do you know what this is this is an
and do you know what this is this is an
and do you know what this is this is an enema kit old and new I haven’t changed
enema kit old and new I haven’t changed
enema kit old and new I haven’t changed much over the last 300 years and
much over the last 300 years and
much over the last 300 years and essentially and there are some people I
essentially and there are some people I
essentially and there are some people I won’t name them but you know who they
won’t name them but you know who they
won’t name them but you know who they are Gwyneth who tell you that you should
are Gwyneth who tell you that you should
are Gwyneth who tell you that you should flush out your toxins by having an enema
flush out your toxins by having an enema
flush out your toxins by having an enema this will damage your gut it will remove
this will damage your gut it will remove
this will damage your gut it will remove the layers of protection in your blood
the layers of protection in your blood
the layers of protection in your blood your gut and also remove a lot of your
your gut and also remove a lot of your
your gut and also remove a lot of your microbiota so I wouldn’t really
microbiota so I wouldn’t really
microbiota so I wouldn’t really recommend it
recommend it
recommend it another approach uses one of these it’s
another approach uses one of these it’s
another approach uses one of these it’s called a fecal microbial transplant
called a fecal microbial transplant
called a fecal microbial transplant basically you get the poo sample of the
basically you get the poo sample of the
basically you get the poo sample of the person you’re interested in do I need to
person you’re interested in do I need to
person you’re interested in do I need to go further pop it in the hopper in the
go further pop it in the hopper in the
go further pop it in the hopper in the blender and you make a smoothie usually
blender and you make a smoothie usually
blender and you make a smoothie usually it is administered using something like
it is administered using something like
it is administered using something like the enema kit and usually don’t drink it
the enema kit and usually don’t drink it
the enema kit and usually don’t drink it and there are self-help sites that tell
and there are self-help sites that tell
and there are self-help sites that tell you how to do this it’s becoming a thing
you how to do this it’s becoming a thing
you how to do this it’s becoming a thing also by weight by the way don’t buy
also by weight by the way don’t buy
also by weight by the way don’t buy second-hand blender
now it may be becoming a thing but is it
now it may be becoming a thing but is it a good idea apart from the obvious X
a good idea apart from the obvious X
a good idea apart from the obvious X Factor
Factor
Factor so unless you know the somebody’s been
so unless you know the somebody’s been
so unless you know the somebody’s been screened before they give you your poo
screened before they give you your poo
screened before they give you your poo sample you’re really really putting
sample you’re really really putting
sample you’re really really putting yourself at risk of an infection also
yourself at risk of an infection also
yourself at risk of an infection also there is another thing that we need to
there is another thing that we need to
there is another thing that we need to point out it’s poo now I know it’s poo
point out it’s poo now I know it’s poo
point out it’s poo now I know it’s poo who does contain microbes contain the
who does contain microbes contain the
who does contain microbes contain the right microbes if we look all the way
right microbes if we look all the way
right microbes if we look all the way down our guts we can see real variety in
down our guts we can see real variety in
down our guts we can see real variety in the types and numbers of microbes that
the types and numbers of microbes that
the types and numbers of microbes that we’ve got the stomach has been much less
we’ve got the stomach has been much less
we’ve got the stomach has been much less all the way through to the large
all the way through to the large
all the way through to the large intestine which has a really rich
intestine which has a really rich
intestine which has a really rich diverse population and so is a poo
diverse population and so is a poo
diverse population and so is a poo sample really capturing that diversity
sample really capturing that diversity
sample really capturing that diversity and if you actually have a look at how
and if you actually have a look at how
and if you actually have a look at how the gut is laid out what I’ve got here
the gut is laid out what I’ve got here
the gut is laid out what I’ve got here is my big science slide if I the pointer
is my big science slide if I the pointer
is my big science slide if I the pointer would be little easier so I’ll try and
would be little easier so I’ll try and
would be little easier so I’ll try and talk you through it
talk you through it
talk you through it on the left hand side I have a picture
on the left hand side I have a picture
on the left hand side I have a picture of a gut biopsy and what we’ve done is
of a gut biopsy and what we’ve done is
of a gut biopsy and what we’ve done is we’ve stained the section so that you
we’ve stained the section so that you
we’ve stained the section so that you can see the host cells our own cells our
can see the host cells our own cells our
can see the host cells our own cells our intestinal cells in blue with little
intestinal cells in blue with little
intestinal cells in blue with little green blobs and then on the right hand
green blobs and then on the right hand
green blobs and then on the right hand side you should be able to see a kind of
side you should be able to see a kind of
side you should be able to see a kind of mixture of red and green in that image
mixture of red and green in that image
mixture of red and green in that image and I’ve put a little cartoon at the
and I’ve put a little cartoon at the
and I’ve put a little cartoon at the side of it to explain what everything is
side of it to explain what everything is
side of it to explain what everything is and basically the epithelial cells are
and basically the epithelial cells are
and basically the epithelial cells are cells that lie in our gut are making
cells that lie in our gut are making
cells that lie in our gut are making mucus just like the mucus in your nose
mucus just like the mucus in your nose
mucus just like the mucus in your nose the snot in your nose and that acts as a
the snot in your nose and that acts as a
the snot in your nose and that acts as a barrier to prevent against infection
barrier to prevent against infection
barrier to prevent against infection there also is the thick layer of mucus
there also is the thick layer of mucus
there also is the thick layer of mucus and a lot of our bacteria quite like
and a lot of our bacteria quite like
and a lot of our bacteria quite like living in there you then get a further a
living in there you then get a further a
living in there you then get a further a population of bacteria that live just
population of bacteria that live just
population of bacteria that live just outside that mucus layer now we and
outside that mucus layer now we and
outside that mucus layer now we and others have analyzed two samples and
others have analyzed two samples and
others have analyzed two samples and compared them to the bacteria we find in
compared them to the bacteria we find in
compared them to the bacteria we find in the mucus and the two populations are
the mucus and the two populations are
the mucus and the two populations are very very different
very very different
very very different so this poo sample is not telling us
so this poo sample is not telling us
so this poo sample is not telling us what’s in the mucus and we’ve been
what’s in the mucus and we’ve been
what’s in the mucus and we’ve been looking in inflammation in disease and
looking in inflammation in disease and
looking in inflammation in disease and we can see that the mucus bacteria
we can see that the mucus bacteria
we can see that the mucus bacteria changed
changed
changed very quickly in response to inflammation
very quickly in response to inflammation
very quickly in response to inflammation where is the poo bacteria don’t change
where is the poo bacteria don’t change
where is the poo bacteria don’t change at all so if you’re wanting to look at
at all so if you’re wanting to look at
at all so if you’re wanting to look at things that might be important for our
things that might be important for our
things that might be important for our hell we might need to be thinking again
hell we might need to be thinking again
hell we might need to be thinking again about where we’re getting those bacteria
about where we’re getting those bacteria
about where we’re getting those bacteria from and we still don’t know about all
from and we still don’t know about all
from and we still don’t know about all the other guys in the microbiome the
the other guys in the microbiome the
the other guys in the microbiome the viruses the funghi the parasites etc so
viruses the funghi the parasites etc so
viruses the funghi the parasites etc so what can you do if you want to be
what can you do if you want to be
what can you do if you want to be healthier as regards your microbiome
healthier as regards your microbiome
healthier as regards your microbiome people who live long healthy robust
people who live long healthy robust
people who live long healthy robust lives seem to have a very varied and
lives seem to have a very varied and
lives seem to have a very varied and diverse microbiome people who live very
diverse microbiome people who live very
diverse microbiome people who live very kind of frail lives are not very well as
kind of frail lives are not very well as
kind of frail lives are not very well as they get older or they have a lot of
they get older or they have a lot of
they get older or they have a lot of inflammatory conditions seem to have a
inflammatory conditions seem to have a
inflammatory conditions seem to have a much less diverse microbiome much less
much less diverse microbiome much less
much less diverse microbiome much less variety in the species that are found
variety in the species that are found
variety in the species that are found there so that suggests that variety is a
there so that suggests that variety is a
there so that suggests that variety is a good thing what can you do to have a
good thing what can you do to have a
good thing what can you do to have a very gut microbiome well basically all
very gut microbiome well basically all
very gut microbiome well basically all you need to do is have a varied diet
you need to do is have a varied diet
you need to do is have a varied diet because the diet is the most important
because the diet is the most important
because the diet is the most important thing that shapes on microbiome so a
thing that shapes on microbiome so a
thing that shapes on microbiome so a diet that’s rich in prebiotic foods
diet that’s rich in prebiotic foods
diet that’s rich in prebiotic foods pulses fruits vegetables you want
pulses fruits vegetables you want
pulses fruits vegetables you want sources of protein you want sources of
sources of protein you want sources of
sources of protein you want sources of carbohydrate you want you can even it
carbohydrate you want you can even it
carbohydrate you want you can even it sort of supplement it with probiotics
sort of supplement it with probiotics
sort of supplement it with probiotics like yogurts
like yogurts
like yogurts are fermented foods but what you really
are fermented foods but what you really
are fermented foods but what you really need is a good range of foods and what
need is a good range of foods and what
need is a good range of foods and what this goes to show is that we are what we
this goes to show is that we are what we
this goes to show is that we are what we thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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