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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,...
81
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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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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Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

34
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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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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Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

38
The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
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Related Experiment Video

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Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems
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The human gut virome: a multifaceted majority.

Lesley A Ogilvie1, Brian V Jones2

  • 1School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton Brighton, UK ; Alacris Theranostics GmbH Berlin, Germany.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|October 7, 2015
PubMed
Summary

The human gut virome, dominated by temperate phages, is a stable, individual ecosystem. Advances in sequencing and analysis illuminate its functions, impacting bacterial hosts and microbiome resilience.

Keywords:
bacteriophagedysbiosishuman gut microbiomemetagenomicsphage-encoded functionsvirus-like particles

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Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • The human gut harbors a complex viral community, the virome, largely composed of bacteriophages.
  • Understanding the gut virome is crucial for comprehending host-microbiome interactions and overall health.
  • Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding viral diversity, function, and ecological roles within the gut.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge of the human gut virome, focusing on bacteriophages.
  • To highlight advancements in viral discovery and analysis methodologies.
  • To discuss the functional implications of the gut virome for bacterial hosts and the microbiome.

Main Methods:

  • High-throughput sequencing technologies for viral DNA/RNA detection.
  • Bioinformatic pipelines for viral sequence assembly and annotation.
  • Comparative genomics to infer viral functions and ecological roles.

Main Results:

  • The human gut virome is highly personalized yet temporally stable.
  • Bacteriophages, particularly those with temperate lifestyles, dominate the gut virome.
  • The gut virome encodes diverse functional genes influencing bacterial hosts, including virulence and microbiome stability.

Conclusions:

  • Ongoing technological advancements are rapidly expanding our understanding of the gut virome.
  • The gut virome plays a significant role in host-microbiome dynamics and resilience.
  • Future research will clarify multi-partite interactions, enabling medical and biotechnological applications of gut viruses.