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Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

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Microbiota of the Large Intestine

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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...

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 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

Gastrointestinal malignancy and the microbiome.

Maria T Abreu¹, Richard M Peek²

¹Division of Gastroenterology, Departments of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.

Gastroenterology

|January 11, 2014

Summary

The gastrointestinal microbiome plays a role in cancer development, potentially influencing at least 15% of cases. Understanding these microbial interactions could lead to new strategies for preventing and treating gastrointestinal cancers.

Keywords:

Bacteria Cancer Inflammation

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A Method to Define the Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Colon Microbiome Biodiversity in a Mouse Colon Tumor Model

A Method to Define the Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Colon Microbiome Biodiversity in a Mouse Colon Tumor Model

Published on: February 28, 2018

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Oncology
Gastroenterology

Background:

Infectious agents cause at least 15% of all cancer cases.
The role of the gastrointestinal microbiome in cancer development is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the contribution of the gastrointestinal microbiome to cancer development.
To identify microbial species and interactions that increase malignancy risk in the stomach and colon.

Main Methods:

Review of studies in human beings and rodent models of cancer.
Identification of effector microbial species and community relationships.

Main Results:

Resident microbes can promote carcinogenesis through inflammation, increased cell proliferation, altered stem cell dynamics, and metabolite production.
Specific microbial communities in the stomach and colon are linked to increased malignancy risk.

Conclusions:

The gastrointestinal microbiome significantly influences cancer development.
Targeting the microbiome or immune responses to bacteria may offer novel strategies for gastrointestinal cancer prevention and treatment.