Bogdan Severus Gaspar

By Gaspar Bogdan Severus, Ionescu Ruxandra Florentina, Enache Robert Mihai, Dobrică Elena Codruța, Crețoiu Sanda Maria, Crețoiu Dragoș and Voinea Silviu Cristian

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent cell-specific carriers of bioactive cargos that can be of importance in either physiological or pathological processes. Frequently, EVs are seen as intercellular communication vehicles, but it has become more and more evident that their usefulness can vary from circulating biomarkers for an early disease diagnosis to future therapeutic carriers for slowing down the evolution of different afflictions and their ability to restore damaged tissue/organs. Here, we summarize the latest progress of EVs classification, biogenesis, and characteristics. We also briefly discuss their therapeutic potential, with emphasis on their potential application in regenerative medicine.

Part of the book: Extracellular Vesicles

By Ruxandra Florentina Ionescu, Elena Codruta Cozma, Robert Mihai Enache, Sanda Maria Cretoiu, Maria Iancu, Matei Mandea, Monica Profir, Oana Alexandra Roşu and Bogdan Severus Gaspar

Microbiomics represents a new science studying the microbiome, consisting of all the microorganisms of a given community. This new science collects data about all the members of the microbial community and quantifies the molecules responsible for the structure, function, and dynamics of the microbiome. The human microbiome plays a very important role in the healthy state and in a variety of disease states. The human microbiome knowledge has evolved during the last decades and nowadays one can consider that, in particular, the gut microbiota is seen as a significant organ holding 150 times more genes compared to the human genome. This chapter will focus on discussing the normal and modified phyla and species of the gut microbiome in a variety of conditions, providing a better understanding of host-microbiome interactions. We will highlight some new associations between intestinal dysbiosis and acute or chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Part of the book: Advances in Probiotics for Health and Nutrition

By Bogdan Severus Gaspar, Monica Profir and Sanda Maria Cretoiu

Recently, the role of the gut microbiome has become more prominent in gut-brain interactions. The microbiota-gut-brain axis homeostasis is responsible for our emotional behavior, stress response, and brain neurotransmitter balance. This bidirectional communication axis between the gut and the brain is influenced by the effect of the microbiome on the metabolic pathways of the host. Intestinal bacteria intervene directly in Trp metabolism, generating signaling molecules and specific metabolites with physiological effects on both the brain and the intestine. Trp is also metabolized under the influence of the microbiome and suffers three major pathways in the organism: The serotonin (5-HT), kynurenine, and indole pathway resulting in the production of neuro-active metabolites. This current chapter aims to cover the most recent data referring to the Trp metabolites and the microbiome-gut-brain axis in major gut disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and celiac disease. These diseases are frequently associated with mood disorders.

Part of the book: Weight Loss - A Multidisciplinary Perspective [Working title]