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Microbiome as mediator: Do systemic infections start in the gut?

Melissa Latorre1, Suneeta Krishnareddy1, Daniel E Freedberg1

  • 1Melissa Latorre, Suneeta Krishnareddy, Daniel E Freedberg, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10023, United States.

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|October 13, 2015
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiome influences critical illness and infections by altering bacterial diversity. Future therapies like short-chain fatty acids show promise for preventing systemic infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • The intestinal microbiome plays a key role in mediating between external factors and systemic infections.
  • Alterations in gut microbial composition, including reduced bacterial diversity and increased toxogenic species, are linked to critical illness and non-gastrointestinal infections.

Discussion:

  • Current microbiome-targeted therapies, such as probiotics, have shown limited efficacy.
  • Understanding the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and host immunity is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Key Insights:

  • Loss of fecal bacterial diversity and overgrowth of specific bacterial species are common in critical illness.
  • The gut microbiome is a significant factor in the development of systemic and non-gastrointestinal infectious diseases.

Outlook:

  • Microbiome-based therapies, including short-chain fatty acids, are a promising future strategy.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of the microbiome in critical illness and to optimize therapeutic interventions.
Keywords:
Clostridium difficileCritical illnessGutMicrobiomeProbioticsShort-chain fatty acids

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