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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...
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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...
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 Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
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...

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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Compost Microcosms as Microbially Diverse, Natural-like Environments for Microbiome Research in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Published on: September 13, 2022

The noncolonic microbiome: does it really matter?

R Daniel Lawson1, Walter J Coyle

  • 1Gastroenterology Division, Naval Medical Center, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92134-1301, USA. Robert.lawson@med.navy.mil

Current Gastroenterology Reports
|June 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human esophagus and stomach harbor complex microbial communities, challenging previous assumptions. Understanding this foregut microbiome is key to exploring host immunity and developing new therapeutic strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The gastrointestinal tract hosts trillions of microorganisms, primarily in the colon.
  • Historically, the esophagus and stomach were considered sparsely populated by bacteria.
  • Recent molecular studies reveal a more complex microbial presence in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current findings on microbial communities in the foregut (esophagus and stomach).
  • To highlight the presence of complex, mixed-microbial communities in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
  • To explore the implications for understanding host immunity and potential therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Review of contemporary studies utilizing molecular techniques.
  • Analysis of research demonstrating microbial presence in the esophagus and stomach.
  • Synthesis of findings related to foregut microbial communities in health and disease.

Main Results:

  • Established, complex mixed-microbial communities exist within the healthy and diseased foregut.
  • Molecular techniques have revealed a significant microbial presence previously underestimated.
  • These findings challenge traditional views of the upper gastrointestinal microbiome.

Conclusions:

  • The foregut harbors a complex microbiome that plays a role in health and disease.
  • Understanding the host-microbiome interactions in the foregut is crucial.
  • This knowledge may lead to novel therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal and immune-related conditions.