A study published in Nature (2018) reveals that many non-antibiotic drugs affect the human gut microbiome. The researchers tested over 1,000 drugs against 40 representative gut bacteria and found that 24% of human-targeted drugs inhibited the growth of at least one strain. Certain drug classes, such as antipsychotics, were particularly effective. The findings align with clinical studies showing that these drugs can cause antibiotic-like side effects, suggesting their impact on the microbiome is significant. The study also found that susceptibility to antibiotics and human-targeted drugs correlates across bacterial species, indicating that non-antibiotics may contribute to antibiotic resistance. The research highlights that many drugs, including those used for diabetes, acid reflux, and mental health, can influence gut bacteria. The study used a high-throughput screening method to assess drug effects on gut bacteria, finding that 27% of non-antibiotic drugs had anticommensal activity. The results suggest that human-targeted drugs may have broader impacts on the microbiome than previously thought, potentially contributing to antibiotic resistance. The study also found that the effects of these drugs on gut bacteria vary, with some species being more sensitive than others. The study also validated the in vitro findings with clinical data, showing that the effects of these drugs on the microbiome are consistent with real-world observations. The research underscores the importance of considering the impact of drugs on the microbiome in future studies and highlights the potential for drug repurposing and the development of microbiome modulators. The findings suggest that non-antibiotic drugs may contribute to antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the need for further research into the interactions between drugs and the microbiome.A study published in Nature (2018) reveals that many non-antibiotic drugs affect the human gut microbiome. The researchers tested over 1,000 drugs against 40 representative gut bacteria and found that 24% of human-targeted drugs inhibited the growth of at least one strain. Certain drug classes, such as antipsychotics, were particularly effective. The findings align with clinical studies showing that these drugs can cause antibiotic-like side effects, suggesting their impact on the microbiome is significant. The study also found that susceptibility to antibiotics and human-targeted drugs correlates across bacterial species, indicating that non-antibiotics may contribute to antibiotic resistance. The research highlights that many drugs, including those used for diabetes, acid reflux, and mental health, can influence gut bacteria. The study used a high-throughput screening method to assess drug effects on gut bacteria, finding that 27% of non-antibiotic drugs had anticommensal activity. The results suggest that human-targeted drugs may have broader impacts on the microbiome than previously thought, potentially contributing to antibiotic resistance. The study also found that the effects of these drugs on gut bacteria vary, with some species being more sensitive than others. The study also validated the in vitro findings with clinical data, showing that the effects of these drugs on the microbiome are consistent with real-world observations. The research underscores the importance of considering the impact of drugs on the microbiome in future studies and highlights the potential for drug repurposing and the development of microbiome modulators. The findings suggest that non-antibiotic drugs may contribute to antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the need for further research into the interactions between drugs and the microbiome.