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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
Published on: July 4, 2018
Composition and function of the human-associated microbiota
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA. eliesbik@stanford.edu
Abstract:
The human body is an ecosystem harboring complex site-specific microbial communities. The majority of these human-associated microbes are found in the intestinal tract, where they play important roles in energy uptake, vitamin synthesis, and epithelial and immunity development. Recent molecular studies have characterized the human-associated microbiotas in more detail than conventional culture-dependent techniques, showing a large degree of microbial diversity and differences between anatomical sites and individuals. Investigating the composition and function of microbial symbionts will facilitate better understanding of their roles in human health and disease.
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