Barnesiella is a beneficial gut microbe that plays a vital role in promoting health, both in and beyond the gut. Barnesiella is named after the eminent British microbiologist Ella M. Barnes OBE who, in the 1970s, was a leading microbiologist at the Norwich Food Research Institute, now the Quadram Institute. Much of today’s worldwide research into antibiotic resistance and food poisoning can be traced back to her discoveries. Here are three key reasons why Barnesiella is important for your health:
- Antibiotic resistance. Emerging research has shown that the deliberate introduction of Barnesiella into the gastrointestinal tract may prevent the spread of highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria.1Ubeda C, Bucci V, Caballero S, Djukovic A, Toussaint NC, Equinda M, Lipuma L, Ling L, Gobourne A, No D, Taur Y, Jenq RR, van den Brink MR, Xavier JB, Pamer EG. Intestinal microbiota containing Barnesiella species cures vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonization. Infect Immun. 2013 Mar;81(3):965-73. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01197-12.2Caballero S, Kim S, Carter RA, Leiner IM, Sušac B, Miller L, Kim GJ, Ling L, Pamer EG. Cooperating Commensals Restore Colonization Resistance to Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium. Cell Host Microbe. 2017 May 10;21(5):592-602.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2017.04.002. Additionally, Barnesiella has been shown to interact with the immune system and may play a role in immune regulation and inflammation control in both health and disease.3Liu Y, Baba Y, Ishimoto T, Gu X, Zhang J, Nomoto D, Okadome K, Baba H, Qiu P. Gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancer: a friend or foe? Int J Biol Sci. 2022 Jun 21;18(10):4101-4117. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.69331.4Daillère R, Vétizou M, Waldschmitt N, Yamazaki T, Isnard C, Poirier-Colame V, Duong CPM, Flament C, Lepage P, Roberti MP, Routy B, Jacquelot N, Apetoh L, Becharef S, Rusakiewicz S, Langella P, Sokol H, Kroemer G, Enot D, Roux A, Eggermont A, Tartour E, Johannes L, Woerther PL, Chachaty E, Soria JC, Golden E, Formenti S, Plebanski M, Madondo M, Rosenstiel P, Raoult D, Cattoir V, Boneca IG, Chamaillard M, Zitvogel L. Enterococcus hirae and Barnesiella intestinihominis Facilitate Cyclophosphamide-Induced Therapeutic Immunomodulatory Effects. Immunity. 2016 Oct 18;45(4):931-943. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.09.009.
- Weight management. Barnesiella abundance is inversely correlated with obesity,5Duan M, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Zou R, Guo M, Zheng H. Characteristics of gut microbiota in people with obesity. PLoS One. 2021 Aug 10;16(8):e0255446. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255446.6Barone M, Garelli S, Rampelli S, Agostini A, Matysik S, D’Amico F, Krautbauer S, Mazza R, Salituro N, Fanelli F, Iozzo P, Sanz Y, Candela M, Brigidi P, Pagotto U, Turroni S. Multi-omics gut microbiome signatures in obese women: role of diet and uncontrolled eating behavior. BMC Med. 2022 Dec 27;20(1):500. doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02689-3. suggesting its potential role in weight management. This may be linked to Barnesiella belonging to a cluster of gut microbes that promote the production of short-chain fatty acids like acetate. According to research, the lower the Barnesiella levels, the lower the acetate levels, and the higher the susceptibility to accumulate body fat.7Nogal A, Louca P, Zhang X, Wells PM, Steves CJ, Spector TD, Falchi M, Valdes AM, Menni C. Circulating Levels of the Short-Chain Fatty Acid Acetate Mediate the Effect of the Gut Microbiome on Visceral Fat. Front Microbiol. 2021 Jul 15;12:711359. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.711359.
- Gut health indicator. Barnesiella species are associated with various health benefits and their abundance is considered an indicator of a healthy gut ecosystem, contributing to the overall balance and diversity of the gut microbiome.8Ejtahed HS, Angoorani P, Soroush AR, Hasani-Ranjbar S, Siadat SD, Larijani B. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites in obesity: a systematic review. Biosci Microbiota Food Health. 2020;39(3):65-76. doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2019-026.9Kulagina EV, Efimov BA, Maximov PY, Kafarskaia LI, Chaplin AV, Shkoporov AN. Species composition of Bacteroidales order bacteria in the feces of healthy people of various ages. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2012;76(1):169-71. doi: 10.1271/bbb.110434.
What are the best sources of Barnesiella?
Barnesiella is a native microbe to the human gut. There are no food sources of it, and food supplements that increase your Barnesiella levels are still under development. You can improve the abundance of Barnesiella in your gut by eating some of this microbe’s favourite foods. Please see below.
What foods can Barnesiella feed on?
Barnesiella thrives on a wide range of foods, particularly those rich in complex carbohydrates. Foods that support the growth of Barnesiella include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, all varieties of legumes/pulses, and other fibre-rich foods like chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, asparagus, onions, garlic, and leeks. Including a diverse range of prebiotic-rich foods in your diet can provide the necessary substrates for Barnesiella to feed on, flourish, and contribute to a healthy and balanced gut microbiome.
Where to find Barnesiella in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test
You will find your Barnesiella levels in the “Bacteria with Unique Properties” section of the “Probiotics” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results.
Synonyms: Barnesiella species, Barnesiella spp., antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antibiotic-resistant microbes, probiotics for antibiotic resistance
Important disclaimer
The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.
References
- 1Ubeda C, Bucci V, Caballero S, Djukovic A, Toussaint NC, Equinda M, Lipuma L, Ling L, Gobourne A, No D, Taur Y, Jenq RR, van den Brink MR, Xavier JB, Pamer EG. Intestinal microbiota containing Barnesiella species cures vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonization. Infect Immun. 2013 Mar;81(3):965-73. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01197-12.
- 2Caballero S, Kim S, Carter RA, Leiner IM, Sušac B, Miller L, Kim GJ, Ling L, Pamer EG. Cooperating Commensals Restore Colonization Resistance to Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium. Cell Host Microbe. 2017 May 10;21(5):592-602.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2017.04.002.
- 3Liu Y, Baba Y, Ishimoto T, Gu X, Zhang J, Nomoto D, Okadome K, Baba H, Qiu P. Gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancer: a friend or foe? Int J Biol Sci. 2022 Jun 21;18(10):4101-4117. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.69331.
- 4Daillère R, Vétizou M, Waldschmitt N, Yamazaki T, Isnard C, Poirier-Colame V, Duong CPM, Flament C, Lepage P, Roberti MP, Routy B, Jacquelot N, Apetoh L, Becharef S, Rusakiewicz S, Langella P, Sokol H, Kroemer G, Enot D, Roux A, Eggermont A, Tartour E, Johannes L, Woerther PL, Chachaty E, Soria JC, Golden E, Formenti S, Plebanski M, Madondo M, Rosenstiel P, Raoult D, Cattoir V, Boneca IG, Chamaillard M, Zitvogel L. Enterococcus hirae and Barnesiella intestinihominis Facilitate Cyclophosphamide-Induced Therapeutic Immunomodulatory Effects. Immunity. 2016 Oct 18;45(4):931-943. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.09.009.
- 5Duan M, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Zou R, Guo M, Zheng H. Characteristics of gut microbiota in people with obesity. PLoS One. 2021 Aug 10;16(8):e0255446. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255446.
- 6Barone M, Garelli S, Rampelli S, Agostini A, Matysik S, D’Amico F, Krautbauer S, Mazza R, Salituro N, Fanelli F, Iozzo P, Sanz Y, Candela M, Brigidi P, Pagotto U, Turroni S. Multi-omics gut microbiome signatures in obese women: role of diet and uncontrolled eating behavior. BMC Med. 2022 Dec 27;20(1):500. doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02689-3.
- 7Nogal A, Louca P, Zhang X, Wells PM, Steves CJ, Spector TD, Falchi M, Valdes AM, Menni C. Circulating Levels of the Short-Chain Fatty Acid Acetate Mediate the Effect of the Gut Microbiome on Visceral Fat. Front Microbiol. 2021 Jul 15;12:711359. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.711359.
- 8Ejtahed HS, Angoorani P, Soroush AR, Hasani-Ranjbar S, Siadat SD, Larijani B. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites in obesity: a systematic review. Biosci Microbiota Food Health. 2020;39(3):65-76. doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2019-026.
- 9Kulagina EV, Efimov BA, Maximov PY, Kafarskaia LI, Chaplin AV, Shkoporov AN. Species composition of Bacteroidales order bacteria in the feces of healthy people of various ages. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2012;76(1):169-71. doi: 10.1271/bbb.110434.