Kenya researcher maps human gut bacteria to help fight E.coli

Antibiotic overuse has raised the prevalence of bacteria that can resist the drugs, putting humans more at risk. An informal settlement in Nairobi, where E.coli was prevalent, was the setting for Kenyan disease ecologist Eric Ng’eno’s work as he researched how to combat the displacement of healthy bacteria in the human gut, which can help tackle illnesses, by the antibiotic-resistant variety. Humans are at increased risk of disease following years of collective antibiotic overuse, which has raised the prevalence of bacteria that can resist the drugs. Ng’eno found through mapping the microorganisms that were in the participants’ guts, and statistical modelling, that healthier microbiomes were better equipped to fight off more dangerous strains of E.coli. To help ward off antibiotic-resistant disease, Ng’eno recommends minimizing antibiotic use, getting vaccinated against disease, and consuming fermented foods which are packed with healthy microbes.