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Related Concept Videos

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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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...
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Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

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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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The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
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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.
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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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Related Experiment Video

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Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
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Food, immunity, and the microbiome.

Herbert Tilg1, Alexander R Moschen1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine I, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

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Summary

Diet significantly impacts health by influencing gut microbiota and producing metabolites. Understanding these interactions can lead to food-based disease prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords:
Anti-InflammatoryInflammationMalnutritionMetabolomeWestern Diet

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Nutritional science
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Dietary components influence the pathogenesis of diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes.
  • Nutrients affect the gut microbiota's composition and host metabolism over short and long terms.
  • Western diets, rich in fat, phosphatidylcholine, and L-carnitine, are linked to inflammation and atherosclerosis via metabolites like trimethylamine N-oxide.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the intricate relationship between diet, gut microbiota, and host immunity.
  • To highlight how dietary factors and microbial metabolites act as crucial messengers.
  • To underscore the potential for developing food-based interventions for disease prevention and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific evidence on diet-microbiota-host interactions.
  • Analysis of the roles of specific dietary components (e.g., fatty acids, carbazoles, tryptophan).
  • Examination of microbial metabolites (e.g., trimethylamine N-oxide, short-chain fatty acids) and their signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Dietary factors like Western diets promote inflammation, while others like carbazoles exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Microbiota-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, modulate immune responses and epithelial integrity.
  • Metabolites like trimethylamine N-oxide are degradation products of dietary components and linked to atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

  • The adage "we are what we eat" is scientifically supported, with diet initiating health processes from early life.
  • Understanding diet-microbiota-immunity interactions is key to developing effective, food-based therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting dietary interventions and their impact on the microbiota offers a promising avenue for preventing and treating chronic diseases.