A new study has found that a strain of the gut bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum activates a NOD2–type I interferon–insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway in young mice to partially protect against the deleterious growth effects of a diet deficient in protein and fat. Could live biotherapeutic products or their derivatives unlock the full potential of nutritional interventions against childhood stunting?
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Moneme, C., Moore, S.R. Microbial cues stimulate linear growth in undernourished mice. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 20, 485–486 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-023-00790-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-023-00790-3