A revolution in 21st-century modern medicine brought about by gut microbes
The shift from a sedentary lifestyle, where people sat on the floor, to a modern, sedentary lifestyle, with chairs and standing tables, has been quite long in coming. While we've known for some time that fermented foods containing lactic acid bacteria, like yogurt and kimchi, are beneficial for our gut health, it's only recently that we've learned that fostering a healthy gut microbiome can significantly enhance immune function and the production of various metabolic substances.
Photo source: https://www.hmpdacc.org/
From the early 20th century to the 21st, medicine and pharmacy have advanced remarkably rapidly. But why did scientists only recently discover something? It was the discovery of the human microbiome. The microbiome was not only selected as one of the top 10 breakthrough technologies by the globally prestigious journal Science, but in 2014, the World Economic Forum listed it as one of the top 10 new technologies that will drive future innovation among the next-generation core value-added industries of the 21st century. It also gained wider public recognition in 2016 when it was revealed to be former US President Obama's final research project.
The microbiome is known to play a key role in immune function. Currently, it is known to account for 1-3% of body weight, or approximately 1.5-2 kg in total. It can be broadly divided into two categories: 1) the gut microbiome and 2) the skin microbiome.
The gut microbiome (intestinal microorganisms) is known to play a crucial role in bodily functions, particularly immune function, to the point where it's often called the "second organ." Accordingly, a variety of lactic acid bacteria products, including probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, are flooding the domestic market. Furthermore, the development of skin microbiome cosmetics is driving the microbiome market.
In the COVID-19 era, numerous medical and scientific papers related to COVID-19 are being published through various channels. So, what are the direct, positive impacts of advances in microbiome research on our lives in this COVID-19 era?
With the global spread of COVID-19, public interest in immune function and immune health has grown, and research is actively being conducted in the scientific community. It is expected that the function of the gut microbiome will greatly contribute to various roles, such as prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as post-treatment such as alleviation of aftereffects.
For example, according to the opinion of Professor Kim Hee-nam of the Department of Biosystems and Medical Sciences at Korea University, published in the opinion column of 'mbio', a world-renowned academic journal in the field of microbiology, the COVID-19 virus enters human cells through the 'ACE2 receptor protein'. Since the 'ACE2 receptor protein' is also present in the intestines, including the lungs, which cause pneumonia, the more beneficial bacteria in the intestines, the stronger the immunity against COVID-19, which lowers the infection rate and reduces the severity after infection. According to Professor Kim Hee-nam's commentary, if the intestinal microbiome has not been managed, COVID-19 can easily pass through the intestinal wall and spread throughout the body through the blood.
Furthermore, there are optimistic outlooks based on overseas clinical research results that it will not only be used to develop treatments for age-related diseases such as dementia (Alzheimer's disease) and Parkinson's disease, but also as a 'broadly-used treatment' that is highly anticipated for treating irritable bowel syndrome and atopic allergies. However, it is advisable to be cautious about getting too hopeful.
<Reference Materials>
[1] Lung microbiome and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (2020): Possible link and implications, Human Microbiome Journal (Saroj Khatiwada, Astha Subedi)
[2] Cosmetics Beauty News COS'IN
[3] Chosun Ilbo
[4] Donga News
[5] Yonhap News
[6] Health Chosun
[7] Hit News