Breakthrough: Gut Microbes Enhance Child Growth with Therapeutic Food

Researchers at Washington University have developed a therapeutic food that enhances beneficial gut bacteria, particularly Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, to improve growth in malnourished children. The study, published in Science, reveals that this bacterium produces an enzyme with unique metabolic capabilities, potentially leading to new treatments for malnutrition and other diseases. The enzyme, a bacterial version of FAAH, regulates important physiological functions by metabolizing key molecules, offering insights into gut microbiome's role in human health.