​​HOCl & Gut Mucosal Bacteria 

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Gut Bacteria Types
​Gut bacteria are not enveloped or non-enveloped like 'viruses.' These terms are used to describe the structure of viruses. Bacteria, including gut bacteria, can be Gram-positive or Gram-negative, which refers to the structure of their cell walls.

​Gram-negative bacteria have an additional outer membrane layer, which provides extra protection and makes them more resistant to certain disinfectants compared to Gram-positive bacteria.

The relationship between HOCl (hypochlorous acid) and gut mucosal bacteria is complex and multifaceted. HOCl is a potent antimicrobial agent produced by the body's immune cells, such as neutrophils, to combat infections.

However, its role in the gut microbiome is more nuanced.

• Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl): HOCl is a strong oxidizing agent that can damage or kill bacteria, including those in the gut mucosa. However, the gut mucosal layer, composed of mucin proteins and other compounds, can protect commensal bacteria from HOCl's antimicrobial effects.

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Commensal bacteria are microorganisms that live on or in the human body, particularly on mucosal surfaces and skin, without causing harm or benefiting from the host’s tissues.

​They are an integral part of the human microbiome, comprising trillions of microorganisms that interact with the host’s immune system and contribute to overall health.

• Gut Mucosal Bacteria: The gut mucosa is home to a diverse community of bacteria, including commensal and pathogenic species. Commensal bacteria, such as those from the genera Bacteroides and Firmicutes, play a crucial role in maintaining gut health and can even produce compounds that help protect against HOCl's damaging effects.

 

• Mucin Protection: The mucin layer in the gut can protect mucosal bacteria from HOCl by binding to and neutralizing the oxidizing agent. This protection allows commensal bacteria to thrive in the gut mucosa

​Gut Mucosal Bacteria HOCl

The relationship between gut mucosal bacteria and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is complex and multifaceted. HOCl is a potent antimicrobial compound produced by the host's immune system, particularly by neutrophils and macrophages, as a defense mechanism against pathogens.

In the gut, the mucosal layer plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis and separating the host's epithelial cells from the luminal microbiota.

​The mucin glycoproteins in this layer can be degraded by certain mucolytic bacteria, potentially compromising the barrier function and allowing pathogens to penetrate and cause inflammation.

Some mucosa-associated bacteria have developed mechanisms to resist or evade the antimicrobial effects of HOCl. For instance, certain bacteria can produce enzymes that detoxify HOCl or modify their surface components to reduce their susceptibility to HOCl-mediated killing.

On the other hand, the production of HOCl by the host's immune cells can also influence the composition and function of the gut microbiota. HOCl can selectively target and kill certain bacterial species, potentially leading to a shift in the balance of the microbial community.
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• Akkermansia muciniphila: A mucolytic bacterium that can degrade mucin glycoproteins in the gut mucosa, potentially affecting the barrier function and interactions with HOCl.

 

• Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: A beneficial bacterium that can produce anti-inflammatory compounds and is often depleted in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, where HOCl production may be altered.

 

• Escherichia coli: A commensal bacterium that can be present in the gut mucosa and may interact with HOCl, although its susceptibility and resistance mechanisms are not fully understood.

Further Research is Needed

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Further research is needed to clarify the intricate relationships between gut mucosal bacteria, HOCl, and the host's immune system, as well as their implications for gut health and disease.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a powerful antibacterial agent produced by the immune system to combat invading pathogens. When bacteria enter the body, especially through broken skin or mucosal membranes, neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, are activated.

These neutrophils release HOCl to neutralize the bacteria. HOCl is effective because it does not carry an electrical charge, allowing it to penetrate bacterial cell membranes without being repelled. Once inside, HOCl disrupts the bacterial DNA, proteins, and enzymes, leading to cell death.

However, some bacteria can resist the effects of HOCl. For example, Mycobacterium smegmatis has been observed to survive longer inside neutrophils compared to other bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

This bacterium maintains its reduced mycothiol levels despite the presence of HOCl, indicating a mechanism to protect against oxidative stress. While mycothiol itself is not the primary driver of resistance, the bacterium's ability to maintain reduced mycothiol suggests a robust defense mechanism against HOCl-induced oxidative damage.

While HOCl is highly effective against many bacteria, some species, such as M. smegmatis, have developed mechanisms to resist its effects, highlighting the complexity of bacterial interactions with the immune system.

This resistance is one reason why the HOCl 50/50 Protocol works well with acute pathogenic infections. In the case of bacteria that maintain their reduced mycothiol levels despite the presence of HOCl, this means they have a robust defense mechanism.

This defense mechanism can be overcome with frequency of usage. ​Not a higher PPM but a low therapeutic ppm, used with more frequency.

The Mucin Barrier Protection

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The mucin barrier, a critical component of the mucus layer, provides significant protection to the body by acting as a physical barrier against harmful substances and microorganisms.

Here are some key points about the mucin barrier's protective functions:

• Physical Barrier: Mucins form a thick, gel-like layer that physically blocks pathogens, toxins, and other harmful substances from reaching the underlying epithelial cells. This barrier is particularly important in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, respiratory tract, and other mucosal surfaces.

• Dynamic Response: The mucin barrier is not static; it can respond dynamically to infections and other challenges. For example, during inflammation or infection, the production and secretion of mucins can increase, helping to reinforce the barrier.

• Regulation by Microbiota: The composition and function of the mucus layer are influenced by the resident microbiota. The microbiota can modulate the production and secretion of mucins, affecting the barrier's properties and effectiveness.

• Involvement of Mucin Types: Secreted gel-forming mucins, such as MUC2, provide the structural backbone for the mucus barrier, while transmembrane mucins, like MUC1, form the glycocalyx layer covering the epithelial cells. Both types play crucial roles in maintaining the barrier's integrity.

• Interaction with Pathogens: Some pathogens can disrupt the mucin barrier by upregulating genes involved in pathogenicity when they come into contact with mucins. However, the barrier can also trap and immobilize pathogens, preventing them from reaching the epithelial cells.

• Role in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Changes in mucin quality and quantity are often observed in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), indicating the importance of the mucin barrier in maintaining gut health and preventing inflammation.

• Evolutionary Conservation: The ability to produce a functional mucus layer is an evolutionarily conserved trait, seen across various species from corals to humans. This highlights the critical role of the mucin barrier in protecting organisms from environmental threats.

​Understanding the mucin barrier's protective mechanisms can aid in developing treatments for conditions where the barrier is compromised, such as ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory diseases.

In the Context of Mucosal Surfaces

​The mucin layer in the gut can protect mucosal bacteria from HOCl by binding to and neutralizing the oxidizing agent. This protection allows commensal bacteria to thrive in the gut mucosa. 

​Mucins play a crucial role in protecting cells and tissues from external threats. They are large extracellular proteins heavily glycosylated with complex oligosaccharides, forming a selective molecular barrier at the epithelial surface.

​This barrier helps protect against adverse growth conditions, pathogens, and toxins, while also allowing the passage of nutrients and immune factors.

In the context of mucosal surfaces, such as those in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts, mucins form a mucus barrier that coats these areas. This barrier is essential for lubrication, reducing shear stress, and preventing the penetration of large molecules like pathogens while allowing smaller molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides, to pass through.

Mucins are also involved in signal transduction pathways and provide physical protection to the cell surface. They can exclude pathogens and toxins while hosting commensal bacteria, contributing to the maintenance of homeostasis.

For instance, in the lung, cell surface mucins surround the cilia, forming a periciliary layer (PCL) that is crucial for the lubrication of ciliary beats and the movement of mucus through the airways.

In cancer, alterations in mucin expression or glycosylation accompany the development of cancer and influence cellular growth, differentiation, transformation, adhesion, invasion, and immune surveillance.

Cancer cells might use mucins to protect themselves from adverse growth conditions and to control the local molecular microenvironment during invasion and metastasis.

It’s essential to note that the interactions between HOCl and commensal bacteria may vary depending on the specific context, such as the type of commensal bacteria, the concentration of HOCl, and the duration of exposure.

When therapeutic outcomes are needed for gut disbiosis, the HOCl Protocol 50/50 may be very helpful as it offers frequency of usage.​ 

Commensal bacteria are an integral part of the human microbiome, comprising trillions of microorganisms that interact with the host’s immune system and contribute to overall health. These microorganisms helps to limit the kill rate of HOCl on beneficial gut bacteria.

HOCl however, knows the terrain and will not attract commensal bacteria.  You gut bacteria ratio will be stabilized with HOCl usage...if you follow the suggested protocols and personalize them for your own usage, while remembering that Less is really More when it comes to HOCl. 

​NOT higher ppm, but a more frequent therapy schedule, to help overcome bacteria that's temporarily sheltered away from HOCl.​ A shorter duration between usage will be more effective in penetrating the protective membrane.

Resources

​https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4372027/

​https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.856962/full

​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9238349/

​https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-018-0057-2

​https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-021-00617-8