Harvard University scientists have used an 'organ-on-a-chip' to recreate human gut microbiomes and diagnose disease-causing imbalances, a new study finds. But studying how these bacteria behave within the gut has been next to impossible - until now. Their latest achievement, they hope, will pave the way to being able to work out what a 'healthy' gut microbiome looks like so scientists can test, treat and prevent diseases that are linked to these microorganisms . In the past, when they've tried to research gut bacteria in a petri dish, scientists have struggled to keep gut microbes from devouring the 'human' cells or from dying off outside of their uniquely oxygen-deprived natural habitats. This close replica of a real human gut opens the door to working out what might cause everything from psychiatric disorders to gluten allergies.

Source: Daily Mail May 13, 2019 15:00 UTC