Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Microbial Ecology

Introduction to Microbial Ecology

Microbial ecology examines the complex web of interactions and diversity among microorganisms within various ecosystems. This field seeks to understand how microbial populations adapt to and influence their environments and how these interactions shape broader ecological processes. Microbes are integral to ecosystem function, participating in nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the maintenance of environmental homeostasis.An ecosystem represents a dynamic interaction between living organisms...

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

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...

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

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...

Methods to Assess Microbial Communities

Methods to Assess Microbial Communities

Microbial communities, comprising bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic microorganisms, inhabit diverse ecosystems and play crucial roles in environmental and biological processes. Their diversity is defined by three main parameters: species richness (the number of distinct species), species abundance (the relative quantity of each species), and species evenness (how uniformly individual species are distributed in various locations). These factors together shape the structure and ecological balance...

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

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 Antibiotics

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Fecal microbiota transplantation from protozoa-exposed donors downregulates immune response in a germ-free mouse model, its role in immune response and physiology of the intestine.

PloS one·2024

Same author

<i>Citrobacter rodentium</i> possesses a functional type II secretion system necessary for successful host infection.

Gut microbes·2024

Same author

A novel pathway of levodopa metabolism by commensal Bifidobacteria.

Scientific reports·2023

Same author

Cross-feeding between intestinal pathobionts promotes their overgrowth during undernutrition.

Nature communications·2021

Same author

Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions Are Associated with Differences in the Vaginal Microbiota of Mexican Women.

Microbiology spectrum·2021

Same author

Structural and Cellular Insights into the l,d-Transpeptidase YcbB as a Therapeutic Target in Citrobacter rodentium, <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium, and <i>Salmonella</i> Typhi Infections.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

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

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

Published on: October 15, 2019

Gut microbiota: metagenomics to study complex ecology.

A Vacharaksa¹, B B Finlay

¹The University of British Columbia, Michael Smith Laboratories, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Current Biology : CB

|July 13, 2010

Summary

Metagenomic analysis techniques are revolutionizing the study of the gut microbiota. These advanced methods simplify the investigation of the complex microbial communities residing in the gastrointestinal tract.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Genomics
Gastroenterology

Background:

The gastrointestinal tract harbors a vast and intricate microbial ecosystem.
Studying this complex gut microbiota has historically presented significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the impact of recent technological advancements on gut microbiota research.
To emphasize the potential of metagenomic analysis in overcoming previous study limitations.

Main Methods:

Development of novel metagenomic analysis techniques.
Application of these techniques to characterize gut microbial communities.

Main Results:

Metagenomic analysis provides unprecedented insights into gut microbial composition and function.

More Related Videos

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Published on: February 15, 2019

Investigating the Microbial Community in the Termite Hindgut - Interview

Investigating the Microbial Community in the Termite Hindgut - Interview

Published on: May 28, 2007

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

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

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

Published on: October 15, 2019

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Published on: February 15, 2019

Investigating the Microbial Community in the Termite Hindgut - Interview

Investigating the Microbial Community in the Termite Hindgut - Interview

Published on: May 28, 2007

These methods facilitate the study of previously intractable aspects of the gut microbiome.

Conclusions:

Recent advances in metagenomic analysis are transformative for the field of gut microbiota research.
These techniques offer powerful tools for understanding the complex gastrointestinal microbial community.