Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Seeing Is Believing? Scientific Misconduct and the Detection of Problematic Images.

Anesthesia and analgesia·2026
Same author

Correction: Distinct Distal Gut Microbiome Diversity and Composition in Healthy Children from Bangladesh and the United States.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Tackling paper mills requires us to prevent future contamination and clean up the past - the case of the journal <i>Bioengineered</i>.

Bioengineered·2025
Same author

Finding the truth in science.

Nature reviews. Cancer·2024
Same author

Publishing negative results is good for science.

Access microbiology·2024
Same author

Rookery through rehabilitation: Microbial community assembly in newborn harbour seals after maternal separation.

Environmental microbiology·2023
Same journal

Natural Approaches to Appetite Suppression in Obesity: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Clinical Integration.

Nutrition reviews·2026
Same journal

The Effect of Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Neuromuscular Function in Humans: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis.

Nutrition reviews·2026
Same journal

Oats in Gluten-Free Diets: An Examination of the Codex Standard and Country-Specific Differences in Gluten-Free-Food Labeling Regulations, for Oats and Oats Declared as Ingredients in Gluten-Free Products.

Nutrition reviews·2026
Same journal

Ultra-Processed Foods and Health Outcomes in Children and Adults: An Updated Narrative Umbrella Review With a Focus on Dose-Response.

Nutrition reviews·2026
Same journal

A Scoping Review of Nutritional Guidelines and Practices in Day Care Centers.

Nutrition reviews·2026
Same journal

Time-Restricted Feeding/Eating and Muscle Aging: Research Progress from Molecular Mechanisms to Personalized Intervention Strategies.

Nutrition reviews·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
10:24

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.

Elisabeth M Bik1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA. eliesbik@stanford.edu

Nutrition Reviews
|November 13, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human body hosts diverse microbial communities, especially in the gut, crucial for health. Understanding these microbiotas aids in comprehending their role in human health and disease.

More Related Videos

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems
06:58

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Published on: August 23, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
10:24

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface

Published on: July 4, 2018

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems
06:58

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Published on: August 23, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Human Microbiome Research
  • Ecosystem Science

Background:

  • The human body harbors complex, site-specific microbial communities, primarily in the intestinal tract.
  • These microbes are vital for energy uptake, vitamin synthesis, and development of epithelial and immune systems.
  • Conventional culture-dependent techniques have limitations in fully characterizing these microbial ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail the composition and diversity of human-associated microbial communities.
  • To highlight the importance of molecular studies in microbiome characterization.
  • To underscore the need for investigating microbial symbiont roles in human health and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized recent molecular techniques for microbial community characterization.
  • Compared findings with conventional culture-dependent methods.
  • Analyzed microbial diversity across different anatomical sites and individuals.

Main Results:

  • Revealed a high degree of microbial diversity within the human body.
  • Demonstrated significant differences in microbial communities between anatomical sites.
  • Showcased variations in microbiota composition among individuals.
  • Molecular studies provided a more comprehensive characterization than traditional methods.

Conclusions:

  • Human-associated microbial communities are diverse and site-specific.
  • Molecular approaches offer superior insights into microbiome composition and function.
  • Further investigation into microbial symbionts is essential for understanding human health and disease states.