Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

74
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,...
74
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

94
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...
94
Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

145
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...
145
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

162
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,...
162
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System III: Elimination01:26

Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System III: Elimination

1.7K
The gastrointestinal elimination process involves a complex interplay of neural and hormonal mechanisms that coordinate the final waste removal from the body. This intricate operation encompasses the absorption of water and electrolytes, vital for transforming the remaining indigestible food matter into feces. The large intestine is pivotal in water and electrolyte absorption, forming feces from unabsorbed minerals, undigested food, bacteria, bile pigments, and shed epithelial cells. Essential...
1.7K
What is Monogastric Digestion?01:50

What is Monogastric Digestion?

56.2K
The human body contains a monogastric digestive system. In a monogastric digestive system, the stomach only contains one chamber in which it digests food. Several other animal species also have monogastric digestive systems, including pigs, horses, dogs, and birds. This chapter, however, focuses on the human digestive system.
56.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Early warning signals for loss of control in complex systems.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Oat-rich low-gluten diet modulates plasma short-chain fatty acids without significant changes in fecal microbiome or inflammatory markers - a randomized clinical trial in people with cardiometabolic risk.

The Journal of nutrition·2026
Same author

Reconstructing community dynamics from limited observations.

Microbiome·2026
Same author

Skin microbiota variation among Indian monozygotic twins.

PeerJ·2026
Same author

Association between infant and toddler gut microbiota composition and later executive functioning.

Development and psychopathology·2026
Same author

Multi-omics analysis of pediatric short bowel syndrome induced intestinal failure and associated liver disease: Association with gut microbial deviations.

Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)·2026
Same journal

Chlorinated VSLSs Surpass HCFCs in CFC-11-Equivalent Emissions for Ozone Layer Depletion in China.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Author Correction: Charge transfer in triphenylamine-tetrazine covalent organic frameworks for solar-driven hydrogen peroxide production.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Vegetation browning patterns under compound soil and atmospheric dryness in northern permafrost ecosystems.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Voltage imaging of CA1 pyramidal cells and SST+ interneurons reveals stability and plasticity mechanisms of spatial firing.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Radical-omics reveals the hydrogen-abstraction pathway of isoprene oxidation.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Toughening elastomer via sequentially activated multi-pathway energy dissipation.

Nature communications·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device
10:51

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Published on: August 30, 2016

22.2K

Tipping elements in the human intestinal ecosystem.

Leo Lahti1, Jarkko Salojärvi2, Anne Salonen3

  • 11] Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 66, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland [2] Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8033, 6700 EJ Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Nature Communications
|July 9, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Certain gut bacteria exist in two states: abundant or absent, impacting health. These microbial states are linked to aging and weight, suggesting they are key indicators of gut health.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems
06:58

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Published on: August 23, 2019

6.7K
Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota
06:23

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

Published on: February 15, 2019

13.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device
10:51

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Published on: August 30, 2016

22.2K
Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems
06:58

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Published on: August 23, 2019

6.7K
Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota
06:23

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

Published on: February 15, 2019

13.1K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Human Health
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • The human gut microbiome significantly influences health and well-being.
  • Mechanisms governing the complex intestinal microbial ecosystem remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify bacterial groups with distinct abundance patterns in the human gut.
  • To investigate the factors influencing these bacterial abundance distributions.

Main Methods:

  • Deep phylogenetic analysis of intestinal microbiota.
  • Analysis of data from a thousand western adults.

Main Results:

  • Identified bacterial groups with robust bistable abundance distributions (either abundant or nearly absent).
  • Observed decreased temporal stability in intermediate abundance ranges.
  • Found independent variation in abundances of these bimodally distributed bacteria.
  • Determined that short-term dietary interventions did not affect these distributions.
  • Associated alternative bacterial states with host factors like aging and overweight.

Conclusions:

  • Bistable bacterial groups may act as tipping elements in the intestinal microbiota.
  • Critical transitions in these microbial states could have significant health implications.
  • These microbial states show potential for diagnostic applications in human health.