Potentially deadly sepsis may be more likely in certain patients due to problems in the gut.

Researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology’s Infectious Disease Research Center used female mouse models to investigate why sepsis outcomes can vary so dramatically.

The study, published in the journal Nature, looked at genetically similar mice with different gut microbiomes. The mice were infected with Acinetobacter baumannii — a highly resilient bacterium that can lead to sepsis.

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The researchers compared groups of mice with higher and lower survival rates, examining differences in their gut microbiomes, the amount of bacteria in their blood and organs, and other cellular markers, according to the study press release.

Measures of risk

Although some mice were genetically similar, the more vulnerable mice had a higher concentration of Muribaculaceae bacteria in the gut. In one comparison, these bacteria made up about 28% of the microbiome in poor surviving mice, but only 0.15% in better surviving mice.

Mice with worse survival showed an early and strong inflammatory response, which later led to more bacteria in the blood, lungs and spleen. This suggests that the microbiome causes the immune system to be more reactive, according to the researchers.

GUT MICROBES COULD BE KEY TO FIGHTING TOXIC, LONG-LASTING ‘FOREVER CHEMICALS,’ RESEARCH SAYS

In the microbiome of mice with worse survival, the researchers also noticed that one strain of bacteria — Sangeribacter muris KT1-3 — was most prominent. The mice that typically survived at high rates fared much worse when housed with KTI-3 mice, with their survival falling to 10%.

This bacterial strain also appeared to worsen inflammation during certain infections, making sepsis more severe.

These findings suggest that the gut microbiome can signal how the immune system will react before an infection begins.

The microbiome’s surprising influence

Andrew Fleming, MD, section chief of Infectious Diseases & Immunology at NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn, said it has been “known for years” that gut bacteria and bacterial toxins can be released into the bloodstream during sepsis.

This worsens the inflammatory response to the initial infection, according to Fleming, who was not involved in the study.

5 GUT-BOOSTING FRUITS TO EAT MORE OF IN 2026 FOR BETTER DIGESTION, EXPERTS SAY

“This process is particularly important in septic shock, where the intestinal wall becomes more permeable to translocation (or leaking) of bacterial products,” Fleming said.

Interactions between the gut microbiome and the immune system are “complex and variable from person to person,” the doctor described.

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“But there is mounting evidence that a diverse and healthy gut microbiome – the community of bacteria that lives in a person’s gut – is protective in some ways against severe sepsis,” he went on. “And a dysregulated microbiome – for example, one severely altered by antibiotics – can impair or worsen the immune system’s response during sepsis.”

Scientists are starting to think of the gut microbiome “almost as a living organ,” according to Fleming, much like the heart, kidneys or liver, all serving “multiple functions” to keep the body healthy.

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An unhealthy microbiome can have “detrimental effects across a range of health issues,” he added – including how the body responds to infections.

“Compared to our other organs, we currently have fewer readily available tests in the doctor’s office to measure the health of our microbiome,” Fleming said. “However, this should not prevent us from thinking about our gut microbiome and how to keep it healthy.”

The role of antibiotics

The use of antibiotics has “major and long-lasting effects” on the microbiome, Fleming noted. Up to 80% of adults in the U.S. are prescribed an antibiotic every year, while 30% are estimated to be unnecessary, according to the CDC.

“Antibiotics deplete the diversity of the microbiome and create a void in the gut microbial community that can be filled by harmful bacteria from the environment,” the doctor told Fox News Digital.

“We must begin to think much more critically about our antibiotic use and overuse, both to maintain our gut health and to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance.”

The study findings are an “intriguing starting point to further research,” Fleming said, although there were some key limitations.

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“Sangeribacter muris is not typically found in humans, so the exact mechanism of this bacterial strain worsening sepsis that is demonstrated in this study cannot be directly extrapolated to people,” he said. “Well-designed clinical trials should be conducted to explore how similar gut microbiome effects may play out in sepsis in humans.”

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Despite these limitations, the doctor said he supports the hypothesis that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can help keep the immune system well-regulated while reducing the risk of developing severe sepsis.

Potentially deadly sepsis may be more likely in certain patients due to problems in the gut.

Researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology’s Infectious Disease Research Center used female mouse models to investigate why sepsis outcomes can vary so dramatically.

The study, published in the journal Nature, looked at genetically similar mice with different gut microbiomes. The mice were infected with Acinetobacter baumannii — a highly resilient bacterium that can lead to sepsis.

ER DOCTOR REVEALS HOW PNEUMONIA CAN SUDDENLY TURN DEADLY AFTER KYLE BUSCH’S DEATH

The researchers compared groups of mice with higher and lower survival rates, examining differences in their gut microbiomes, the amount of bacteria in their blood and organs, and other cellular markers, according to the study press release.

Measures of risk

Although some mice were genetically similar, the more vulnerable mice had a higher concentration of Muribaculaceae bacteria in the gut. In one comparison, these bacteria made up about 28% of the microbiome in poor surviving mice, but only 0.15% in better surviving mice.

Mice with worse survival showed an early and strong inflammatory response, which later led to more bacteria in the blood, lungs and spleen. This suggests that the microbiome causes the immune system to be more reactive, according to the researchers.

GUT MICROBES COULD BE KEY TO FIGHTING TOXIC, LONG-LASTING ‘FOREVER CHEMICALS,’ RESEARCH SAYS

In the microbiome of mice with worse survival, the researchers also noticed that one strain of bacteria — Sangeribacter muris KT1-3 — was most prominent. The mice that typically survived at high rates fared much worse when housed with KTI-3 mice, with their survival falling to 10%.

This bacterial strain also appeared to worsen inflammation during certain infections, making sepsis more severe.

These findings suggest that the gut microbiome can signal how the immune system will react before an infection begins.

The microbiome’s surprising influence

Andrew Fleming, MD, section chief of Infectious Diseases & Immunology at NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn, said it has been “known for years” that gut bacteria and bacterial toxins can be released into the bloodstream during sepsis.

This worsens the inflammatory response to the initial infection, according to Fleming, who was not involved in the study.

5 GUT-BOOSTING FRUITS TO EAT MORE OF IN 2026 FOR BETTER DIGESTION, EXPERTS SAY

“This process is particularly important in septic shock, where the intestinal wall becomes more permeable to translocation (or leaking) of bacterial products,” Fleming said.

Interactions between the gut microbiome and the immune system are “complex and variable from person to person,” the doctor described.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“But there is mounting evidence that a diverse and healthy gut microbiome – the community of bacteria that lives in a person’s gut – is protective in some ways against severe sepsis,” he went on. “And a dysregulated microbiome – for example, one severely altered by antibiotics – can impair or worsen the immune system’s response during sepsis.”

Scientists are starting to think of the gut microbiome “almost as a living organ,” according to Fleming, much like the heart, kidneys or liver, all serving “multiple functions” to keep the body healthy.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

An unhealthy microbiome can have “detrimental effects across a range of health issues,” he added – including how the body responds to infections.

“Compared to our other organs, we currently have fewer readily available tests in the doctor’s office to measure the health of our microbiome,” Fleming said. “However, this should not prevent us from thinking about our gut microbiome and how to keep it healthy.”

The role of antibiotics

The use of antibiotics has “major and long-lasting effects” on the microbiome, Fleming noted. Up to 80% of adults in the U.S. are prescribed an antibiotic every year, while 30% are estimated to be unnecessary, according to the CDC.

“Antibiotics deplete the diversity of the microbiome and create a void in the gut microbial community that can be filled by harmful bacteria from the environment,” the doctor told Fox News Digital.

“We must begin to think much more critically about our antibiotic use and overuse, both to maintain our gut health and to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance.”

The study findings are an “intriguing starting point to further research,” Fleming said, although there were some key limitations.

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“Sangeribacter muris is not typically found in humans, so the exact mechanism of this bacterial strain worsening sepsis that is demonstrated in this study cannot be directly extrapolated to people,” he said. “Well-designed clinical trials should be conducted to explore how similar gut microbiome effects may play out in sepsis in humans.”

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Despite these limitations, the doctor said he supports the hypothesis that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can help keep the immune system well-regulated while reducing the risk of developing severe sepsis.

The old saying that laughter is the best medicine may be true, according to new research that suggests it is also a vital catalyst for children’s development.

Laughter and play are fundamental to healthy brain growth, emotional well-being and social bonding, according to Jacqueline Harding, Ph.D., an early childhood expert at Middlesex University in London.

In her book, “The Brain That Loves to Laugh,” Harding argues that joy is a complex biological phenomenon that helps children navigate stress and build more resilient, receptive minds, news agency SWNS reported.

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“When we see children laugh, we witness the brilliance of the brain in action: learning, connecting and growing,” Harding told SWNS.

“Hope and humor, it seems, are not just the seasoning of life, but foundational to a recipe for healthy development.”

Laughter activates broad brain networks, including motor regions and the prefrontal cortex, long before children learn to speak. By helping the brain resolve conflicting ideas, it boosts creativity and engages working memory, acting as a “mental workout,” experts say.

At a molecular level, laughter alters the internal chemistry by decreasing stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. It also increases “happiness chemicals” like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.

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Additionally, laughter is known to boost oxytocin, which deepens emotional bonds between parents and children.

Prolonged stress does the exact opposite: It impairs learning, suppresses immune function and alters the developing limbic system, which governs emotion and long-term memory, according to SWNS.

“Stated simply, the emotional state of young children directly influences how they navigate their way through the world,” Harding said.

Parents can foster these benefits through moments of spontaneous play and joyful connection, the expert advised.

“Spontaneous, joyful play is an antidote to stress.”

These interactions do more than spark laughter — they help children develop emotional regulation, strengthen feelings of safety and connection, and support social and cognitive development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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“Spontaneous, joyful play is an antidote to stress, as it increases levels of endorphins released by the brain,” Harding said. “Creative, happy play does its most brilliant work at a molecular level, especially at a time when the human brain is at its most receptive.”

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This shared joy also establishes “co-regulation,” where a child learns to manage their own stress by drawing on a biological store of positive early experiences.

Harding advocates for integrating humor directly into classrooms to reduce cognitive load and improve how children retain key concepts. 

By uplifting the nervous system, joy creates an optimal environment for information absorption, as the SWNS piece noted.

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“Safe relationships and non-stressful play environments promote learning,” she added. 

“The curriculum must never be prioritized over those two fundamental factors.”