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Related Concept Videos

Defense Mechanism Against Infection01:26

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
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...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
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...
Probiotics01:22

Probiotics

Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...

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Rearing Axenic Delia antiqua with Half-Fermented Sterile Diets
05:58

Rearing Axenic Delia antiqua with Half-Fermented Sterile Diets

Published on: December 22, 2023

Replenishing our defensive microbes.

Luke K Ursell1, William Van Treuren, Jessica L Metcalf

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

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
|July 10, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Modern lifestyles may reduce beneficial microbes, increasing disease risk. Restoring these vital microbial communities could promote health and pathogen resistance.

Keywords:
antibioticsecologygut microbiotahuman microbiomehygiene hypothesispathogens

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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
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Published on: October 31, 2019

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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
09:49

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Published on: October 31, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Human Health
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Human microbiota studies often overlook non-Western populations, whose lifestyles may be more representative of ancestral human-microbe interactions.
  • Western lifestyles and diets may be linked to the rise of chronic diseases, potentially due to altered microbial exposures.
  • Reduced exposure to coevolved microbes might compromise the human immune system and increase susceptibility to pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of beneficial microbes and microbial communities in pathogen resistance.
  • To explore how modern lifestyles impact the human microbiota.
  • To discuss strategies for restoring beneficial microbial ecosystems for improved health.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on human microbiota, pathogen resistance, and lifestyle impacts.
  • Analysis of the relationship between microbial diversity and disease prevalence.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on microbial ecology and human health.

Main Results:

  • Beneficial microbes and complex microbial communities play a crucial role in protecting against pathogens.
  • Modern lifestyles, including diet and hygiene, can significantly deplete protective microbiota.
  • Loss of ancestral microbial exposures may contribute to increased susceptibility to diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Restoring or reintroducing beneficial microbes holds promise for combating modern diseases.
  • Understanding human-microbe coevolution is key to developing strategies for microbial ecosystem restoration.
  • Promoting a diverse and resilient microbiota is essential for maintaining human health and preventing disease.