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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,...
29
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

11
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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The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

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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...
9
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

16
The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
16
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

18
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...
18
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

5
The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 23, 2026

An Intestinal Gut Organ Culture System for Analyzing Host-Microbiota Interactions
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Coevolution between the Human Microbiota and the Epithelial Immune System.

Michael Sigal1, Thomas F Meyer

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany.

Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 31, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The gut lining uses defense mechanisms to maintain balance with microbes, preventing infection. Failures in these defenses can lead to chronic inflammation and cancer risk.

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Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The gastrointestinal epithelium maintains a crucial balance with gut microbiota to prevent infections.
  • Sophisticated host defense mechanisms are essential for gastrointestinal homeostasis.
  • Disruptions in mucosal defense are linked to disease development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the interplay between the host gastrointestinal epithelium and gut microbiota.
  • To highlight how mucosal defense deficiencies contribute to disease.
  • To discuss microbial manipulation of host defenses.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of host-microbe interactions in the gut.
  • Analysis of epithelial defense mechanisms.
  • Examination of disease pathogenesis due to mucosal defects.

Main Results:

  • Epithelial defense systems are vital for maintaining gut homeostasis.
  • Genetic defects in defense pathways disrupt the mucosal barrier, causing inflammation.
  • Pathogens like Helicobacter pylori can evade immune surveillance by manipulating epithelial defenses.

Conclusions:

  • A finely tuned interplay exists between the host epithelium and gut microbes.
  • Impaired mucosal defenses increase susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases.
  • Chronic infections and pathogen virulence factors can promote gastrointestinal malignancy.