Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota
Published on: February 15, 2019
The Microbiome: The Trillions of Microorganisms That Maintain Health and Cause Disease in Humans and Companion
A Rodrigues Hoffmann1, L M Proctor2, M G Surette3
1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA arodrigues@cvm.tamu.edu.
Abstract:
The microbiome is the complex collection of microorganisms, their genes, and their metabolites, colonizing the human and animal mucosal surfaces, digestive tract, and skin. It is now well known that the microbiome interacts with its host, assisting in digestion and detoxification, supporting immunity, protecting against pathogens, and maintaining health. Studies published to date have demonstrated that healthy individuals are often colonized with different microbiomes than those with disease involving various organ systems. This review covers a brief history of the development of the microbiome field, the main objectives of the Human Microbiome Project, and the most common microbiomes inhabiting the human respiratory tract, companion animal digestive tract, and skin in humans and companion animals. The main changes in the microbiomes in patients with pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous lesions are described.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Functions of the Gut Microbiota
The Oral Microbiota
Development of Human Microbiota
Gut-Brain Axis
Probiotics

