The gut microbiota: its anatomy and physiology over a lifetime

The wide assemblage of microorganisms inhabiting our gastrointestinal tract is an attractive field for overwhelming contemporary research in several aspects of the human health. Most recent molecular techniques, as the use of rRNAs or whole genome sequencing, definitely overcame traditional culture techniques in giving outline of the intestinal bacterial richness. Moreover, the crosstalk between host and intestinal microbes is considered a cornerstone affecting the host's metabolism, immunity, autoimmunity and autoinflammation and elaborate networks linked to several organs. The aim of this review is to summarize the broad spectrum of available pieces of information in this setting and to assess the current knowledge of the intestinal microbiota anatomy and physiology, in the perspective of future therapies modulating the gut microbial balance.