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Scientists at Duke University School of Medicine are the first to decode the genetic makeup of Akkermansia, a gut bacterium that could help manage cholesterol levels and be used as a next-generation probiotic.   Akkermansia thrives in the mucus layer of the intestine and has a knack for breaking down a type of sugary protein called mucin. This unique skill could be important for our health.   When Akkermansia is present in the right amounts, it’s associated with better metabolic and immune health. That’s why some scientists are exploring it as a probiotic.  

DNA barcoding is now being used to identify the plant matter in human feces, revealing what a person has eaten. A reliable genetic marker for plant-based foods can be retrieved from poop, showing not only what was eaten, but in what relative amounts. The technique should improve clinical trials, nutrition studies and more.