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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

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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...
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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...
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine01:27

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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,...
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...
Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine01:29

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.

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Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
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Published on: October 15, 2019

Insights from characterizing extinct human gut microbiomes.

Raul Y Tito1, Dan Knights, Jessica Metcalf

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.

Plos One
|December 20, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ancient human gut microbiome DNA preserved in coprolites reveals a stark contrast to modern microbiomes. These ancient samples closely resemble those from rural communities, suggesting lifestyle changes dramatically altered the human gut microbiome.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Archaeology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Understanding the ancestral human gut microbiome is crucial for interpreting modern microbial ecology.
  • Coprolites offer a unique window into past microbial communities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reconstruct the ancestral human distal gut microbiome using ancient fecal samples (coprolites).
  • To compare ancient microbiomes with modern microbial sources to identify lifestyle-associated shifts.

Main Methods:

  • Pyrosequencing of the 16S rDNA V3 region from coprolites from three archaeological sites.
  • Clustering analysis to group samples by site.
  • Bayesian source-tracking to compare ancient data with published microbial datasets (soil, compost, various human and non-human primate gut microbiomes).

Main Results:

  • Microbial communities clustered by site, indicating distinct ancient microbiomes.
  • Ancient microbiomes from Rio Zape showed a strong resemblance to rural human gut communities.
  • Coprolites from Hinds Cave yielded largely unknown microbial sources, while Caserones matched compost.
  • Ancient microbiomes align more closely with rural than cosmopolitan modern microbiomes, including Ötzi the Iceman.

Conclusions:

  • Ancient human gut microbiome DNA is preserved in some coprolites.
  • The modern cosmopolitan lifestyle has led to significant alterations in the human gut microbiome compared to ancestral states.