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The Homes of Hidden Animals Series by Jeniak

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Scientists Explore Links Between Genetics, Gut Microbiome and Memory

A new study is among the first to trace the molecular connections between genetics, the gut microbiome and memory in a mouse model bred to resemble the diversity of the human population.

While tantalizing links between the gut microbiome and brain have previously been found, a team of researchers from two U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories found new evidence of tangible connections between the gut and the brain. The team identified lactate, a molecule produced by all species of one gut microbe, as a key memory-boosting molecular messenger. The work was published in the journal BMC Microbiome.

“Our study shows that the microbiome might partner with genetics to affect memory,” said Janet Jansson, a microbial ecologist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a corresponding author of the study.

Scientists know that mice which have been fed microbes that benefit health, called probiotics, experience several positive benefits. Scientists also know that microbes produce molecules that travel through the blood and act as chemical messengers that influence other parts of the body, including the brain. However, it wasn’t clear which specific microorganisms and microbial molecular messengers might influence memory until now.

(Image caption: Lactobacillus, a common probiotic, grow in a petri dish. Credit: Rattiya Thongdumhyu | Shutterstock.com)

“The challenge is that a mouse’s unique genetic makeup and environmental conditions also impact its memory and microbiome,” said Antoine Snijders, a bioscientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and co-corresponding author. “To know if a microbial molecule influenced memory, we needed to understand the interaction between genetics and the microbiome.”

The microbiome’s impact on memory is a very active research area now, he added, with more than 100 papers published in the last five years on links between common probiotics and memory.

Mouse genetics influence memory and gut microbiome

Before they could start hunting for molecules that might be involved with memory improvement, Jansson, Snijders and their colleagues needed to determine how genetics influence memory.

The researchers started with a collection of mice called the Collaborative Cross. They bred 29 different strains of mice to mimic the genetic and physical diversity of a human population. It includes mice of different sizes, coat colors and disposition (e.g., timid or bold). Researchers also know the genome sequences of each strain.

First, the team gave each strain of mice a memory test. Then they screened each strain for genetic variations and correlated these variations to the memory results. They found two sets of genes associated with memory. One was a set of new candidate genes for influencing cognition, while the other set of genes was already known.

Next, the researchers analyzed the gut microbiome of each strain so they could make microbial connections to the genetics and memory links they already had. They identified four families of microbes that were associated with improved memory. The most common of those was a species of Lactobacillus, L. reuteri.

(Image caption: An illustration of nerve cells in the hippocampus, the region of the brain linked to memory formation. Credit: Kateryna Kon | Shutterstock.com)

To test this association, the researchers fed L. reuteri to germ-free mice without any gut microbes and then tested the mice’s memory. They saw a significant improvement relative to germ-free mice not fed microbes. They also found the same improvement when they fed germ-free mice one of two other Lactobacillus species.

“While a link between Lactobacillus and memory was previously reported, we also found it independently in this unbiased genetic screen,” Snijders said. “These results suggest that genetic variation in large part controls memory, as well as the differences in the composition of the gut microbiome across strains.”

Diet and probiotics boost memory

Finally, the researchers wanted to identify which microbe-related molecules might be involved with memory enhancement. They analyzed stool, blood and brain tissue from germ-free mice each fed a specific species of Lactobacillus. Lactate was one of the common metabolic molecular byproducts; it is also a molecule that all Lactobacillus strains produce.

The team fed lactate to mice previously identified to have poor memory and noticed that their memory improved. Mice fed lactate or Lactobacillus microbes also had increased levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a molecular messenger linked to memory formation in their brains.

To see if the same molecular mechanism might apply in humans too, the researchers contacted Paul Wilmes, at the University of Luxembourg, who developed a tiny chip that mimics where microbes interact with human intestinal tissue. When Wilmes and his colleagues tested L. reuteri in this chip, they saw that lactate produced by the microbes traveled through the human gut tissue, indicating that it could enter the bloodstream and potentially travel to the brain.

“While this research strengthens the idea that diet, genetics, and behaviors—like memory—are connected, further work is needed to show if Lactobacillus can improve memory in humans,” Jansson said.

Snijders agreed, adding that it might be possible one day to use probiotics to improve memory in targeted populations, such as people with learning disabilities and neurodegenerative disorders.

So long, so gone

What have you been doing all this time? Did you learn anything new? Did you try anything new? Did you live or survived? 

Maybe we should all really try harder -not on the emotional meaning of course-- but on the physical and rational way, go for it, try it, risk it. 

Chotronette ‘Riz à l’impératrice’ & ‘Forest Fondant’ Haute Couture Gowns

So I’m in love with the Tropical Rouge Cure designs, especially Cure Summer.

i haven’t seen anyone post these yet, the tropical rouge precure website updated with an official synopsis and character bios! here they are (there may be slight inaccuracies because this is via google translate with edits for grammar to make it more readable, i did my best)

Series synopsis:

I’m a first year who transferred from a junior high school in the city this spring!

The day I moved to my new home on this island, I met a secret at the sea. The girl’s name is “Laura”, and in fact… she’s a “mermaid”!

“Grand Ocean, the land of mermaids” in the sea was deprived of “motivation power” by the “Witch of Mawashi” who lives at the bottom of the dark sea, and everyone lost motivation. If human motivation is lost, the world will be in trouble…!

That’s why Laura came to the land alone in search of “Legendary Warrior Pretty Cure”.

Meanwhile, after appearing on land, Laura is caught by the servant of the witch who turns around and is in a big pinch!

Cure Summer / Manatsu Natsumi

A first-year junior high school student who is as bright as the everlasting summer sun and motivated to do various things!

The type whose body moves before thinking, “Let’s do the most important thing now!” At any time.

On the day I moved from my hometown of Minami Nojima to Aozora City, I had a shocking encounter with Laura, a “mermaid” in the sea.

I cherish the lipstick that my mother gave me. The habit is “Tropica!”.

Her “Lip” charm point transforms her into “Cure Summer”!

Birthday: August 1st

Favorite thing: Everything tropical, school

Cure Coral / Sango Suzumura

I just love cute things, and I’m a fashionable first year!

Manatsu’s classmate. A type who can be kind to others and can get along with anyone immediately.

My house is a cosmetics shop in the city, and I know a lot about makeup and cosmetics.

Her “Cheek” charm point transforms her into “Cure Coral”!

Birthday: May 9th

Favorite things: Collecting cute things, makeup

Cure Papaya / Minori Ichinose

A very knowledgeable second year middle school student who likes to read books!

Honor student with the highest grade in the class. A type who has a poker face and doesn’t show much emotion, but holds herself firmly.

She has loved “Mermaid Princess” since she was a child and is familiar with the legends and stories of mermaids.

Her “Eyes” charm point transforms her into “Cure Papaya”!

Birthday: November 21st

Favorite thing: Reading a book

Cure Flamingo / Asuka Takizawa

A third-year junior high school student with a strong sense of justice and excellent motor skills!

At first glance, she’s cool and you want to get closer to her, and she’s an older sister who takes good care of her juniors.

In fact, there are some surprising aspects to her such as being good at playing cute animal games and cooking.

Her “Hair” charm point transforms her into “Cure Flamingo”!

Birthday: October 15th

Favorite things: Physical activity, cooking

Laura

A “mermaid” girl from the mermaid country, Grand Ocean!

Manatsu and her are the same age. A self-confident person who can honestly say whatever she thinks.

In order to fulfill my dream of becoming the next Queen of Grand Ocean, I came to look for “Legendary Warrior Pretty Cure”.

As a supporter of the Precure, she will live on land with Manatsu.

Favorite thing: Singing a song

Kururun

A sea fairy from the Grand Ocean. The mermaid queen’s pet.

You can always relax at your own pace. Its bark is “Kururun ~!”

Favorite things: Shellfish cookies

<enter>

I wish I could study. <I can I just make up excuses>

I wish I could draw. <I can I just am too afraid to show it>

I wish I could dance. <I can I am just too shy to go>

There is so much I can do but I stop myself from doing over fear of being judge. But the truth is: I am the only person judging me. 

//end

On my studies this week my mentor said I should never write negative things, or things that might bring bad emotions or thoughts to people. Therefore, I deleted a bunch of my posts. Happens that I can be very negative when I am sad or tired. I guess it is human to have negative emotions from time to time, specially when the circumstances you are at, are no the best as possible. Thinking on that and putting that together with many other small conversations I had with people during this time, I decided to change, to go after things I should’ve gone way before and to try to be better at the same time as a person, but not only better to other people, but to myself. I need to be kinder to myself, more comprehensive with my emotions and limits. And I honestly think everybody else should too.

Cure Peace

♡ ♡ ♡ ~ ♡ ♡ ♡ ~ ♡ ♡ ♡

Requested by anon

source

Art by exellero

titi window 

Cinnamon buns 🐇

spring and autumn

"My soul is the mirror of the universe, and my body is its frame."

-Voltaire; Micromegas

Discount Universe SS19

ouch

You hate yourself so loudly. You hate yourself at the top of your lungs. Your loathing for yourself permeates your speech. “Sorry I’m just rambling.” “Don’t worry about it.” “Just ignore me.” “Sorry if I’m annoying you.” “Sorry I don’t make sense.” “Sorry about that.” Sorry, sorry, sorry. You act as if you have to beat everyone else to the punch. As if the punching bag is you. If you hate yourself first, if you hate yourself loudest, then nobody will hurt you. You clapped your hands over your ears and shut your eyes and balled yourself up so that you’d never have to experience people’s loathing for you. And it meant you never heard their love. You drowned it out. You screamed your hatred over it. And you never got to hear it. 

I went to high school with a girl who said we should check the other planets for the dinasours because when the meteor hit they probably got catapulted away :(

and how can you be sure she’s wrong

Sometimes I just feel hopeless about all of the trauma I carry. I have ongoing issues with inflammatory injuries and I know that’s linked to long-term stress, as are a bunch of other diseases. And so many of my responses to things and how I see the world are colored by the way I experienced life as a kid and it just makes me feel like I’m never going to be normal. I crave but am terrified of intimacy of any kind, and this was only worsened by emotional trauma as a teen and young adult. I just feel constantly detached, like I’m not quite a part of things, and like what even is the point if I’m never going to experience life normally anyway? Like I know no one has a “normal” experience but come on. It seems like I’m never going to be able to enjoy things the way it seems everyone else does, like I’m just going to constantly feel like the walking wounded, never quite able to open up or keep up. Idek this isn’t even making any sense. I’m just feeling pretty mournful over everything today.

Many things give me reasons but almost not brings me energy to do so.

Night in Edinburgh.

/w

I wish I could draw. But I never really tried.  I wish I could write. But I never studied anything about it. I wish I could dance. But I never attend to any class.

I wish many things. But I am never feeling well enough to try anything. 

Танцы. 1963. Якобсон Александра Николаевна (1903-1966)

I wish I believe in there with my heart 

Artwork Copyright © Tyler Spangler

Shop: ShopTylerSpangler.com

Танцы. 1963. Якобсон Александра Николаевна (1903-1966)

This just made easier to say: I have no idea what I am doing