Newly Identified Bacterial Strain Has Beneficial Influence on Host Metabolism

A team at the University of California in Louvain has discovered a new bacterial strain implicated with type 2 diabetes. The scientists named Dysosmobacter welbionio—Dysosmo ("which smells bad", in Greek), and Welbions for WELBIO, the organization in the Walloon region which funded this research. Their findings were published in Gut. 

Through the analysis of 12,000 fecal samples from around the world, the scientists observed that the bacteria was present in 70% of the population. The team also observed that Dysosmobacter welbionis was less present in people with type 2 diabetes.

The researchers also found that the bacteria increased the number of mitochondria, thereby lowering sugar levels and weight, in addition to having strong anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, scientists have found that certain molecules produced by Dysosmobacter migrate around the body and have distant actions as well. 

This is promising and probably explains the effects of the bacteria on the fat tissues, but also opens the doors for a possible impact on other diseases such as inflammation and cancer. This is currently being investigated by the team.