For Gut Microbes, not All Types of Fiber Are Created Equal (image)
Caption
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that beneficial gut microbes thrive when fed specific fiber types. The researchers developed artificial food particles that allow them to measure how different fiber types are processed by human gut bacteria as the fibers transit through the mouse intestine. The artificial food particles consist of magnetic beads with fiber molecules coating the surface. Different colored fluorescent labels allow the researchers to track which fiber type is attached to which bead.
Credit
Michael Patnode
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