There are trillions of bacteria in the human gut microbiome. When we eat fruits and vegetables some of these bacteria break down the dietary fiber and provide us with metabolites small molecules our body can use for energy or cell repair.

The specifics of how bacteria break down our food is still a black box according to Brumer.

Using ultrabright synchrotron X-rays at the CLS and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource in California Brumer and colleagues determined the three-dimensional structure and function of the proteins and enzymes this bacterium uses to break down food and the details of that process.

The CLS made it possible for us to study these mechanics on the atomic level shares Brumer. Its really cool to understand how gut bacteria perform those complex processes and contribute to our health. The team published their findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

As scientists continue to learn more about how the microbiome works says Brumer they might uncover how to influence it to improve health.

Theres a huge population of bacteria like the one we researched that might eventually make good probiotics. And by changing their abundance in the gut we might be able to make people healthier reduce disease and improve nutrition.

Source: https://www.msl.ubc.ca/new-research-on-gut-bacteria-could-lead-to-helpful-new-probiotics/