About 1,700 years ago, a Chinese alchemist named Ge Hong was renowned for his special soup that could cure diarrhea-stricken patients. The stew was deep yellow and had an intense aroma. Like many family recipes, it had a secret ingredient. But in this case, that ingredient didn’t come from the kitchen—it came from the bathroom. It might seem unwise to consume feces, and today, there aren’t many doctors who would prescribe Ge Hong’s recipe. However, exciting new research suggests that taking poop into the body in other ways might benefit our health.
One such treatment is fecal microbial transplantation and the secret to how it works lives in your gut. Trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea consider your bowels their home. Collectively, these microbes make up what’s known as your gut microbiome, and each of these organisms possesses dynamic, specialized abilities that seem to be essential for human life. They break down our food, make vitamins, train our immune system and circadian rhythm, and even protect us from infections. In return, they receive a nice warm place to live, complete with an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Some research suggests our microbiomes might start forming in the womb, but if not, they certainly get started when we’re born. During a vaginal birth, infants take in some of their mother’s fecal matter and microbe-filled fluids. From then on, our microbiomes are constantly diversifying with exposure to various foods and environments. This is essential for maintaining gut health. If poor nutrition, chronic disease, or antibiotics disturb this delicate balance, the body can become vulnerable to problems like bacteria and fungal overgrowth or infectious diarrhea. But infusing a new batch of microorganisms into the intestines seems to help reset the gut microbiome—this is where fecal microbial transplants come into play.
This line of treatment is still very new, and there are tons of unanswered questions about how it works. So currently, the US Food and Drug Administration only allows doctors to use fecal transplants experimentally for battling one of the toughest gut infections—antibiotic-resistant Clostridiodes difficile. This infectious bacterium forms spores in the colon that are immune to antibiotics and very difficult to destroy. Patients dealing with this infection can experience months of intermittent fevers alongside bouts of abdominal cramping and extreme diarrhea despite antibiotic treatment. So when symptoms get this bad, it’s time for a fecal microbial transplant.
To start the process, a gastroenterologist first retrieves some feces, typically from a stool bank. These frozen samples are particularly impressive number twos—the selected donors go through a strict process to ensure their samples are infection-free. In fact, these protective protocols are so stringent, that one prominent stool bank’s acceptance rate is less than 3%. Next, the gastroenterologist gets that sample inside the patient via a pill, or, more commonly, a tube into the stomach or colon. Finally, the transplanted microbes migrate through the tract until they find the colon, where they quickly multiply and displace the infectious invader. This process is so effective that it cures over 80% of patients in just one treatment.
Because each stool sample is unique, the FDA still classifies fecal transplants as an experimental treatment rather than a formal medication. However, promising research in rodents suggests new ways we might use fecal bacteriotherapy in the future. For example, fecal transplants from non-diabetic mice improved insulin resistance in mice with type 2 diabetes. Similarly, some studies have shown mice exhibiting anxiety and depression become calmer after transplants from their less anxious peers. Scientists studying humans have even started finding different microbial patterns associated with various intestinal, autoimmune, oncologic, and even psychiatric disorders. So, it seems entirely possible that altering a patient’s microbiome could allow for multiple new modes of treatment. We still have a lot to learn about what makes the “best” gut microbiome, or the most beneficial fecal transplants. But for now, at least we can say that our feces have a bright future.
Design an infographic that explains the concept of the gut microbiome. Include information on the types of microbes found in the gut, their roles in digestion and health, and how they can be affected by diet and antibiotics. Use images and diagrams to make your infographic visually appealing and informative.
Participate in a classroom debate on the pros and cons of fecal microbial transplantation. Divide into two groups, with one group arguing in favor of the treatment and the other against it. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments. Conclude with a discussion on the ethical considerations of this treatment.
Conduct a research project on historical medical practices, focusing on treatments that were once common but are now considered outdated or unusual. Compare these practices to modern treatments, and present your findings in a report or presentation. Include Ge Hong’s special soup as a case study.
Design and conduct a simple experiment to observe the effects of different diets on gut health. For example, you could compare the effects of a high-fiber diet versus a low-fiber diet on digestion. Record your observations and present your findings in a lab report. Discuss how diet can influence the gut microbiome.
Write a creative story from the perspective of a gut microbe living in the human digestive system. Describe your daily activities, interactions with other microbes, and your role in maintaining the host’s health. Use scientific concepts from the article to make your story educational as well as entertaining.
cure – a solution or remedy for a disease or condition – The doctor prescribed a course of medication as a cure for the patient’s illness.
diarrhea – a condition in which feces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form – She couldn’t go to work because she was suffering from severe diarrhea.
feces – waste matter discharged from the bowels; excrement – The scientist analyzed the feces of the animal to gather information about its diet.
treatment – medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury – The hospital offers various treatments for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation.
bacteria – microscopic living organisms that can cause disease or have beneficial effects – The doctor prescribed antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection.
viruses – infectious agents that can only replicate inside the cells of living organisms – The common cold is caused by a virus and can be easily spread from person to person.
fungi – a group of organisms that includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds – The athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that causes itching and redness on the feet.
microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that live in or on the body – Recent studies have shown that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health.
antibiotics – medications used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria – The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics to treat the patient’s sinus infection.
transplant – the process of transferring an organ, tissue, or cells from one person to another – The patient received a kidney transplant from a donor to treat their kidney disease.
