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Conceptualizing human microbiota: from multicelled organ to ecological community
Betsy Foxman1, Deborah Goldberg, Courtney Murdock
1Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
|March 5, 2009
Summary
Human microbiota, comprising diverse microbes, is vital for health. Understanding different conceptualizations of the human microbiome impacts research strategies and predictions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Human Biology
- Ecology
Background:
- The human body hosts a vast and diverse microbial community, known as the microbiota, outnumbering human cells.
- This complex microbiome, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, protozoans, and fungi, plays a crucial role in human health and functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the implicit assumptions and consequences of various conceptualizations of the human microbiota.
- To highlight how different models of the microbiome influence research approaches and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of existing frameworks for understanding the human microbiota.
- Discussion of the implications of four distinct models: single unit, multicelled organ, independent taxa, and dynamic ecological community.
Main Results:
- Different conceptualizations of the human microbiota lead to divergent predictions and research methodologies.
- The choice of model impacts how the microbiome's interactions with the host and environment are studied.
Conclusions:
- Reframing the human microbiota from a singular entity to a dynamic ecological community offers new research avenues.
- Clarifying these conceptualizations is essential for advancing microbiome research and understanding host-microbe interactions.
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