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Related Concept Videos

Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

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...
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Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

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

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

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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,...
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Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

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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...
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Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

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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...
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Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

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Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
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An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
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Dynamic efficiency of the human intestinal microbiota.

Marco Candela1, Elena Biagi, Silvia Turroni

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The human gut microbiota

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and immunology, focusing on the human intestinal microbiota.

Background:

  • Traditional definitions of a healthy gut microbiota rely on static phylogenetic and functional core concepts.
  • Emerging research highlights the dynamic and plastic nature of the intestinal microbiota.
  • Microbiota plasticity is crucial for adapting to host's immunological and metabolic needs across different life stages and conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To revise the traditional concept of a healthy human intestinal microbiota.
  • To incorporate microbiota plasticity as a fundamental requirement for host health.
  • To develop a model for evaluating the relative importance of core functions and plasticity in maintaining host health.

Main Methods:

  • Reviewing recent research on microbiota plasticity and its biological significance.
  • Applying economic principles of static and dynamic parameter analysis to model microbiota health.
  • Integrating concepts of ecosystem services and host-microbiota interactions.

Main Results:

  • The traditional, static view of gut microbiota is insufficient to define health.
  • Microbiota plasticity is a key factor in adapting to host's changing needs.
  • An economic-inspired model can quantify the interplay between core functions and plasticity.

Conclusions:

  • A revised definition of a healthy human intestinal microbiota must include its plasticity.
  • Understanding microbiota dynamics is essential for maintaining host health.
  • Economic modeling offers a novel framework for assessing gut microbiota health and function.