The human body is a host to an army of microbes essential to fighting off threats such as the virus that causes COVID-19. In a new Voices of UMass Chan episode, Ana Maldonado-Contreras, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology & physiological systems, and Heidi Leftwich, DO, associate professor of obstetrics & gynecology, discuss:
- The importance of gut bacteria in immune system function and the development of a healthy microbiome in newborns;
- Research into how SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts people who are pregnant and breastfeeding;
- The role of the microbiome in diseases that have a genetic component;
- Details on how gut bacteria help provide signals for the immune system, regulate inflammation, and impact health in adults and children, including during pregnancy; and
- Research on how food and drinks can manipulate the gut microbiome.
Listen to the full podcast and subscribe at: umassmed.edu/voices. If you’d like to recommend a podcast idea, email the UMass Chan Office of Communications: UMassChanCommunications@umassmed.edu.
