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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...
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...
Human Virome01:26

Human Virome

The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
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...
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
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...

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

Published on: October 15, 2019

Defining the human microbiome.

Luke K Ursell1, Jessica L Metcalf, Laura Wegener Parfrey

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.

Nutrition Reviews
|August 7, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Recent advances in sequencing and analysis enhance human microbiome understanding across time and space. This research paves the way for personalized medicine applications using the microbiota.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • The human microbiome's complexity is increasingly understood through advanced sequencing and analytical methods.
  • Understanding microbial communities in the human body is crucial for health and disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent research expanding the understanding of the human microbiome.
  • To discuss emerging concepts in microbiome analysis and definition.
  • To highlight the potential of microbiota in personalized medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on human microbiome research.
  • Analysis of recent advancements in sequencing technologies.
  • Discussion of novel analytical techniques for microbiome data.

Main Results:

  • Expanded understanding of the human microbiome across diverse spatial and temporal scales.
  • Integration of daily time-series datasets spanning months.
  • Exploration of concepts like operational taxonomic units, diversity indices, core vs. transient microbiomes, and enterotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Continued advances in sequencing and microbiome understanding offer significant potential for personalized medicine.
  • The human microbiome is a dynamic entity with implications for future therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research will refine the definition and application of microbiome insights.