Guest: Franziska Graef, PhD Candidate
Fasting before and during exposure to Salmonella enterica bacteria protects mice from developing a full-blown infection, in part due to changes in the animals’ gut microbiomes, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens by Bruce Vallance and colleagues at University of British Columbia, Canada.
When people or animals develop an infection, they often lose their appetite. However it remains controversial whether fasting protects a host from infection, or increases their susceptibility. In the new study, mice were fasted for 48 hours before and during oral infection with the bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a common cause of foodborne illness in people. NOTE: The show ended abruptly due to a complete power outage in our building that knocked the internet out as well. We covered all the important points of the study. Franziska will be back on because she has some fascinating perspectives on fasting.
Play
Sponsorship Inquiries: email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Show Notes:
Can Fasting Modulate Infectious Disease?
[5:36] Inspiration behind this study.
[10:40] Study design.
[13:00] Previously fasted mice showed attenuated signs of infection.
- Rodents do produce ketones and have a much higher metabolic rate than humans.
- The timing of fasts cannot be translated 1:1.
[16:00] Rodents were infected after the first 24 hour fast and fasted for another 24 hours.
[24:00] Disease tolerance and resistance.
[26:23] Does the body produce biofilms when fasting?
[34:30] Could fasting benefit any viral infection?
