Researcher showcase: Dr Deep Jyoti Bhuyan
For the past 17 years Dr Deep Jyoti Bhuyan, Research Support Program Senior Fellow at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM), has spent a lot of time looking at the byproducts of the human gut.
He has a background in applied microbiology and cancer biology, a passion for helping people understand everything there is to know about gut health, and was recently appointed the Global Challenge Lead for Western Sydney University’s Fostering Healthy Communities Program.
Today, we’re on a mission to find out what his research highlights are, what he and his team have been up to recently at NICM and what he wishes more people knew about gut health….
Can you share your top career highlight so far?
Three things actually! Securing a fully funded internship from Harvard Medical School after my Master's degree, completing my PhD from the University of Newcastle and being awarded the Research Support Program Fellowship from Western Sydney University to establish my own research group at NICM.
What is the focus of your research at NICM?
I lead the GutBiotics Lab, which examines the connection between gut microbial metabolites (postbiotics) and human health.
One of our key focus areas is studying the therapeutic potential of postbiotics and phytochemicals from Australian native plants – investigating their molecular mechanisms of action against cancer as well as the development of natural product-based therapies for gut health and infections (bacterial, fungal and viral).
You’ve had a number of papers published in quick succession over the past month – what have these been about?
Most recently our group has been looking at the potential anticancer effects of postbiotics against lymphoma and gastric cancer.
Through the work led by NICM PhD candidate Ahmad Al-Khazaleh, we found that two postbiotics produced by our gut bacteria, nisin and urolithin B, were highly effective at killing lymphoma cells in lab-based tests, especially when used together.
When combined, these compounds appear to complement each other’s strengths. Nisin targets the cell membrane and increases oxidative stress, while urolithin B impairs the cancer cell’s energy production and survival pathways.
Unlike chemotherapy drugs that can damage healthy tissues and cause significant side effects, this natural combination was gentler on normal cells. It caused cancer cells to die through a process called apoptosis, which doesn’t trigger inflammation or harm surrounding tissues.
While there is still a long way to go with this research, we’re hopeful these natural molecules could help pave the way for novel lymphoma treatments that are not only effective but also kinder to the body.
You and your students have also recently published a paper examining how short-chain fatty acids affect gastric cancer cells, as well as their interaction with dexamethasone – a common anti-inflammatory drug used widely in cancer treatment. Can you share some more about this research?
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are naturally produced by gut bacteria when we eat a fibre-rich diet, and they are crucial for gut health. This recent paper led by NICM PhD candidate Radwa Eladwy focused on three SCFAs – acetate, propionate, and butyrate. We found that a specific combination of these SCFAs effectively stopped gastric cancer cell growth, and that combining them with dexamethasone enhanced this effect.
The treatment primarily caused gastric cancer cell death through apoptosis, with minimal messy necrosis. We showed that SCFAs disrupted key proteins involved in cell growth and DNA repair, impairing the cancer cells’ ability to multiply. On the other hand, the combination improved the growth of normal healthy gut cells which is a win-win. Overall, the combination impaired multiple processes that support cancer growth, including survival signalling, immune modulation, and tumour microenvironment support.
And what is the significance of these findings?
This is the first study to report the in-depth molecular underpinning of how a SCFA combination makes dexamethasone more effective against gastric cancer.
Where to next for this research?
A lot more research is needed, but many SCFA and urolithin supplements are readily available in countries like the United States, so the findings of this study could be applied to clinical trials in a relatively short timeframe.
At NICM, the next phase of this work is looking at the interaction between this SCFA combination, and dexamethasone and chemotherapy – which is a common treatment protocol for patients with gastric cancer. For the lymphoma project, we are investigating how nisin and urolithin B combinations can improve the efficacy of standard chemotherapy such as vincristine.
In the meantime, it is important to promote healthy eating habits, such as consuming a diet rich in fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes, fermented foods, to naturally increase SCFA, nisin and urolithin levels in the gut and help reduce the risks of gastric cancer and lymphoma.
Lastly, what’s one thing you wish more people understood about gut health?
Gut health is complex and influenced by various factors, including genetics, environment, diet, antibiotic use, and, most importantly, the gut microbiome. A great way to support gut health is by incorporating a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables into your diet, often referred to as "eating the rainbow," along with fermented foods. In other words, diversity is key in gut health.
