Difference between revisions of "Team:UCL/Playingaround3"
| Line 684: | Line 684: | ||
| + | <div id="slides"> | ||
<div class="btn-bar"> | <div class="btn-bar"> | ||
| Line 692: | Line 693: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | |||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| Line 706: | Line 706: | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="just_text">The number of <span style="color: #FE6C68;">microorganisms</span> in human gut is higher than the number of human cells in our body. Their <span style="color: #FE6C68;">metabolic activity</span> equals that of liver and plays crucial role in many key processes such as <span style="color: #FE6C68;">digestion</span>, <span style="color: #FE6C68;">drug metabolism</span>, or functioning of the <span style="color: #FE6C68;">immune system</span>...</div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="just_text"> | ||
| + | Studies in mice have shown that the <span style="color: #1E6073;">gut microbiome</span> is also capable of influencing the chemistry of our brain, thus regulating our <span style="color: #1E6073;">behaviour</span> , <span style="color: #1E6073;">anxiety</span> , <span style="color: #1E6073;">mood</span> , <span style="color: #1E6073;">cognition</span> and <span style="color: #1E6073;">pain</span> ... | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="just_text">Being inspired by this emerging research area, <span style="color: #019966;">UCL <img src="http://goo.gl/Bt86ec?gdriveurl" style="width: 40px; height: 32px; display: inline;"> 2015</span> team wants to explore the modulation of the gut bacteria as a strategy for developing <span style="color: #019966;">novel treatments</span> for <span style="color: #019966;">mental health</span> disorders. Ultimately, our goal is to harness <span style="color: #019966;">synthetic biology</span> to make people <span style="color: #019966;">happy</span>! </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 18:46, 20 July 2015
Mind the Gut: Abstract
The gut–brain axis refers to the biochemical signalling taking place between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system, often involving intestinal microbiota, which have been shown to play an important role in healthy brain function. The current research suggests that gut microbes secrete neuroactive compounds – including neurotransmitters – that interact with the brain via two main mechanisms: the vagus nerve, connecting brain and digestive tract, and the immune system, which maintains its own means of communication with the brain.
In line with the ongoing research, UCL iGEM 2015 aims to develop synthetic probiotic strains that mimic the neuromodulatory strategies identified in gut microbes, with a focus on regulation of tryptophan pathway and signalling via serotonin. Additionally, in order to incorporate our neuromodulators into precise and safe therapeutic devices, we are developing a set of sensors capable of detecting mood-related physiological changes in the gut environment.
Available small molecule treatments are associated with both stigma and side effects. We believe that, besides aiding in better understanding of the communication between the gut microbiome and nervous system, our work will also lay a foundation for novel user-friendly treatments targeting a range of mental health disorders.
